by Kym Byrnes
It’s cold and creamy and super refreshing on a hot summer day. The flavors abound – from rocky road to cotton candy to mint chocolate chip – and fortunately for us in Carroll County, there is no shortage of places to get a heaping scoop of ice cream.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. So on July 19, be sure to head to your favorite ice cream shop and celebrate the day with a double scoop.
The ice cream industry in the U.S. generated a total revenue of $10 billion in 2010, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. And about nine percent of all the milk produced by U.S. dairy farmers goes towards the production of ice cream.
Even the rich and famous are known for their love of the frozen treats. According to People.com, Heidi Klum loves hazelnut ice cream, Ryan Seacrest goes for chocolate peanut butter and Rihanna can’t turn away a chocolate cone.
What are local favorites? Hoffman’s in Westminster reports that mint chocolate chip and peanut butter ripple are popular in the summer months. Hoffman’s, which has been serving handmade ice cream since 1947, also makes its own special flavors like Oriole Tracks – vanilla ice cream dyed orange with mini peanut butter cups and fudge.
JJ Hoffman’s Creamery in Finksburg sells a lot of mint chocolate chip and coconut chocolate chip when the weather heats up.
“Our sherbets – raspberry, lime, orange – are more popular in the summer too,” said Jeff Hoffman, owner of JJ Hoffman’s Creamery.
The Scoop: Ice Cream Sold Here!
- Baskin-Robbins – 500 E. Baltimore St., Taneytown
- Bullocks’ Country Meats, Farm Market & Restaurant – 2020 Sykesville Rd., Westminster
- Cold Stone Creamery – 410 Meadow Creek Dr., Westminster
- Hoffman’s Home Made Ice Cream – 934 Washington Rd., Westminster
- Jimmie Cone – 6581 Detrick Rd., Mt. Airy
- JJ Hoffman’s Creamery – 2970 Dede Rd., Finksburg
- Liberty Twin Kiss – 6500 Marvin Ave., Eldersburg
- The Cow – 473 Baltimore Blvd., Westminster
- Simmons Homemade Ice Cream Store – 2841 Snydersburg Rd., Hampstead
- Treat Shop & Chocolate Factory – 400 N. Center St., Westminster
– List by Barbara Pash
