It’s time for our favorite yearly celebration – National Ice Cream Month! Did you know that Michigan ranks 6th in production of dairy products, and 97% of dairy farms in our state are family-owned and often multi-generational? Ice cream, our favorite dairy treat, can be found in locally-owned businesses across the Mitt.
Here’s a few of our favorite picks:
Turkey Tracks Ice Cream at Cornwell’s Turkeyville USA, Marshall
Come visit the Turkeyville Ice Cream Parlour for a scoop of Americana and their ‘Turkey Tracks’ flavor, which includes chocolate chips, peanut butter cups, crushed nuts and a swirl of chocolate in their house-made peanut butter ice cream. If you’ve got a flair for unique ice cream experiences, head over for the Antique Tractor and Machinery Show on July 8th – 10th to see it made with a John Deere tractor engine! If you can’t make it in July, be sure to visit in the fall for their pumpkin flavor.
Single-Origin Fudgsicles at Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate, Empire
Made with single origin chocolate, dark and milk chocolate fudgsicles from Grocer’s Daughter are a must when you visit Empire and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Explore their rotating menu chocolate products featuring local and natural ingredients on their website.
Amaretto Cherry Ice Cream at Barry G’s Italian Ice, Dutton
Seasonal flavors and crowd favorites fill the menu at Barry G’s Italian Ice – but with 122 flavors of ice cream and 70 flavors of Italian ice, it’s hard to choose! We suggest diving in with Amaretto Cherry, which includes chunks of chocolate and maraschino cherries. Find a full menu on their website, or keep up to date with them on Facebook.
Custard Ice Cream Sandwiches from Gabe’s Frozen Custard, Traverse City
Done the ‘old-fashioned’ way, without preservatives or stabilizers, Gabe’s hand-makes their custard using local eggs, dairy, sugar and honey. This TC-based company is making delectable ice cream sandwiches – try their classic vanilla sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies, or go off the beaten path with Burnt Honey custard with snickerdoodles. Find out where to pick up their products on their website!
Cold Brew Fusion at North Country Candy & Gifts, Alpena
This sunrise side sweet shop and coffee bar marries cold brew with a milkshake to make what they call a ‘cold brew fusion’ and what we call ‘the best of both worlds.’ Want to bring a treat home with you? Their 24 flavors of Ashby’s Ice Cream is available in pints and quarts. Find more info on their website, or follow along on Facebook or Instagram.
Blueberry Hill Ice Cream at Buchan’s Blueberry Hill, Traverse City
Featuring blueberries grown on site, Buchan’s makes regionally famous ‘Blueberry Hill’ ice cream at their 5th-generation family farm. Stop by their Old Mission Peninsula farm for blueberry U-pick and scoops this July, or find their ice cream at Buchan’s West Bay or Scoops 22 for the same flavor closer to town!
Sea Monster Ice Cream at Brink’s Family Creamery, McBain
Head to this 4th generation family farm for a scoop of ‘Sea Monster’ – sea salt caramel ice cream with cookie dough and Oreo pieces – before it sells out! This is the most popular flavor of their A2A2 dairy ice cream, which means it’s lactose-friendly. Don’t take our word for it – customers have rave reviews! “Very friendly staff and small town charm. Ice cream and baked goods are delicious!”
Are you keeping cool with local ice cream this July? Be sure to tag us (@tastethelocaldifference) in your social media posts for a chance to be featured on our Instagram story!
Claire Butler is the Content Strategy Specialist for Taste the Local Difference. Contact her at [email protected].
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