Back in 1984, President Reagan declared July National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday in July, National Ice Cream Day. It was Proclamation 5219 that told citizens that they should “observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” Just how you plan to celebrate is up to you, but the options are endless.
At the high end, you could visit Serendipities in New York City and order the Golden Opulence Sundae, with five scoops of “the richest Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream infused with Madagascar vanilla,” but that would set you back $1000. Of course, you might enjoy the edible band of 23K gold that wraps the dish, not to mention the bragging rights.
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Most of us will probably celebrate closer to home at a neighborhood ice cream shop, or at home with a half-gallon of our favorite flavor.
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Here are a few ice cream facts to ponder as you relax and enjoy your next cone or scoop:
The USA is at the top nation for worldwide ice cream expenditures, with over $26 billion spent on ice cream and frozen dairy treats in 2011. Australia (23) and New Zealand (18) are close behind.
Currently, Long Beach, California, is the top ice cream consuming city (followed by Dallas, Texas) in the United States, but the statistics can change rapidly.
At Ben & Jerry’s, headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, Cherry Garcia is the most popular flavor.
Cold Stone Creamery of Scottsdale, Arizona, has about 1,400 US locations.
With origins unknown, the ice cream cone was popularized at the Saint Louis 1904 World’s Fair (Louisiana Purchase Exposition).
The Klondike bar, now made by Good Humor-Breyers, is the best selling frozen novelty in the United States.
Baskin-Robbins has more than 2,500 stores in the US and another 2,100 in 51 countries around the world.
According to the International Dairy Foods Association, the top five flavors are vanilla, chocolate, nut-chocolate, Neapolitan and strawberry.
The” ice cream of the future" is Dippin’ Dots, created by Curt Jones in 1988.
Find your local ice cream shops under the Patch "Business" drop-down.
Thanks to bundle.com, foodbeast.com, IDFA, grandparents.com and funtrivia.com.
