It comes in chocolate, strawberry cheesecake and rocky road, can make anyone’s day on a hot afternoon, and it even has its own month.
July is National Ice Cream Month, designated by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, according to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA).
Being that it’s a nationally recognized event leads many people to believe heading over to local shops and adding an extra scoop or two is a must.
“I chose this over the bakery,” 10-year-old Pierce Lavallee said, as he licked his chocolate and peanut butter scoop. “I eat ice cream like once a week, but I would eat it everyday if I could.”
Lavallee isn’t alone in his desire for a cone of creamy delicious-ness. In 2003, the U.S. produced 1.4 billion gallons of ice cream, which is equivalent to 20 quarts per person, according to the United States Division of Agriculture (USDA).
Margot’s Ice Cream Shop in San Juan Bautista goes through gallons of ice cream each week, and employee Kayla Shinneman said it’s always a happy occasion when she’s serving a scoop.
“That’s one of the great things about working here,” she said. “Everyone who comes in is in a good mood. They’re getting ice cream.”
Shinneman has been working at the shop since it opened eight years ago, and said, she’s gets customers of all ages.
“It’s neat seeing the kids get excited,” she said. “We’ll get babies who come in and it’s their first time trying ice cream. They make some really funny faces.”
Along with tasting good, ice cream also has a way of bringing people together. A lot of Margot’s business comes from families who come in after church, Shinneman said. Many people just stop by for a quick treat, such as 6-year-old Briana Sanchez, who spent Thursday afternoon licking a cone of strawberry ice cream and visiting with her grandpa.
Customers buying ice cream have a variety of toppings, mix-ins and syrups to douse their dessert in, but according to the USDA, Americans’ most favorite flavor is – just vanilla.
Margot Shinneman, owner of Margot’s Ice Cream, agrees.
“It’s funny,” she said. “Of all the flavors we have, the most popular one is Vanilla Bean.”
Although Margot’s busiest time is spring and summer, they continue to please their customers throughout the winter by coming up with different ways of selling ice cream.
“We made up a drink called ‘coffee a la mode,'” she said. “It’s basically just a cup of coffee with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream in it.”
