The Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture and Community and Economic Development along with the Center for Dairy Excellence today announced plans for the second annual Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trail and urged interested creameries to participate.
The PA Ice Cream Trail includes an incentive-based passport program that encourages customers to earn a reward, such as a T-shirt or ice cream scoop, for visiting participating creameries. Last year, more than 1,500 passports were redeemed by those who visited more than six creameries included on the trail.
According to Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, most of the ice cream stands were in central and eastern Pennsylvania for the promotion last year. However, this year, they are looking to expand it to western Pennsylvania and Armstrong County.
“Last year’s ice cream trail was a huge success, and we look forward to expanding it this year to feature even more farm-based creameries and locally-produced dairy products,” said Secretary Redding. “This is a great opportunity to promote products made right here in the commonwealth and to recognize our dairy farmers who produce high-quality milk and dairy foods for millions of Pennsylvanians.”
Bertha “Sissy” Cornman dispenses the famous banana/strawberry ice cream cone at Jordan’s on Route 268. Cornman owned the business for over 25 years before retirement. Her son, Jeff Johns, continues serving up “the largest cones in Armstrong County!”
The Kittanning Paper spoke with ice cream retail stores in middle Armstrong County. Most were not aware of the state-promoted event.
“I remember hearing something about this, but I don’t know much about it,” said Jeff Johns, proprietor of Jordan’s Ice Cream on Route 268. “I would be interested in knowing something more about it.”
Calls to K.I.C.K.S in West Kittanning, Widnoon Ice Cream, and Speedy’s Ice Cream in Ford City were not returned.
“The Pursue Your Scoops Ice Cream Trails is a perfect example of the intersection between agriculture and tourism,” said Carrie Fischer Lepore, Deputy Secretary of Marketing, Tourism, and Film, Department of Community and Economic Development. “We are leveraging the positive response and success of the trail in 2018 to invite more creameries and visitors to participate in 2019.”
Customers are encouraged to complete their passport by receiving a stamp at each location on the trail and then submitting it by mail to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The PA Ice Cream Trail Passport Program is exclusive to PA Preferred® farms and creameries. Farms included in the trail will be selected based on location and product offering.
“Sharing the local dairy farm story with consumers continues to become more and more important,” said Jayne Sebright, executive director with the Center for Dairy Excellence. “The Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trail is a great way to showcase local Pennsylvania dairy farm families while building stronger, more personal connections with our customers.”
Each participating location will receive a resource kit to include passports, stamps, and signage that can be used to identify participation. Passports will include rules and redemption procedures for the program. The passports will also be available on visitPA.com.
The deadline to apply is Friday, April 19, 2019. Interested creameries should contact the Center for Dairy Excellence at 717-346-0849 or via email at info@centerfordairyexcellence.org