Sprinkled across Pennsylvania are 31 creameries that make up Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail. The 4th annual ice cream trail kickoff this week at Urban Churn in Mechanicsburg with a visit from Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Secretary Carrie Fischer Lepore encouraged Pennsylvanians and tourists to support Pennsylvania’s small businesses and dairy farmers.
“This ice cream trail provides consumers an opportunity to experience Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural heritage while learning more about the dairy industry, supporting small businesses, and enjoying a scoop, or several, of PA Preferred ice cream,” said Redding.
“Whether it’s a reward following a little league win, a salute to reuniting with family and friends, or a tribute to a hot summer day, there’s a lot to celebrate about and with Pennsylvania dairy.”
Originally launched in 2018, the Pennsylvania ice cream trail is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and its PA Preferred program, The Department of Community and Economic Development’s Tourism Office, and the Center for Dairy Excellence to support Pennsylvania’s more than 5,400 dairy farm families and the small businesses that source from them and offer a unique opportunity to explore the commonwealth by the scoop.
For 2021, Scooped offers three trails – West, South Central, and East – densely packed with dairy good experiences for ice cream enthusiasts. While this year’s trail does not include an official passport for stamps and prize redemption, trail-goers can learn about participating creameries virtually at visitpa.com/scoops and plan their adventure.
“While 2020 was a year of being cooped up, in 2021, Pennsylvanians can scoop up some fun on this summer’s ice cream trail,” said Deputy Secretary Lepore. “We encourage our happy travelers to set out on new adventures all across the commonwealth, where they can enjoy a sweet treat, make sweet memories, and support Pennsylvania’s small businesses and dairy industry.”
Berks County is included in the South Central tour, which includes The Nesting Box Farm Market & Creamery and Way-Har Farms.
Located at 230 Snyder Road in Kempton, The Nesting Box Farm Market & Creamery is known for its high-quality, cage-free brown eggs, and homemade ice cream as part of its farm fresh offerings. The farm’s market and creamery offers handcrafted artisan ice cream that echoes the traditional ice cream texture and flavor of past times. Customers also can purchase locally produced foods and goods from nearby farms, including milk, cheese, meat, jams and honey.
Located at 7701 Bernville Road Bernville, Way-Har Farms is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a third-generation, family-owned business. In 1970, the Lesher family opened the Way-Har Farm Market as a retail dairy store to sell milk directly from their own cows. Today, the market is a popular destination for ice cream and milkshakes, which customers can purchase from the ice cream wagon. Delicious homemade baked goods round out the market’s offerings.
In Pennsylvania, the dairy industry supports more than 52,000 jobs and contributes $12.6 billion to the state’s economy in both urban and rural areas. Pennsylvania dairy manufacturers lead the nation in the production of many dairy products including ranking second nationally for ice cream and butter, and third in the nation for swiss cheese.
“Pennsylvania dairy farms are the backbones of our communities. The ice cream trail is a great way to support these businesses while getting a firsthand look at the care and quality that goes into dairy farming each and every day,” said Jayne Sebright, Executive Director at the Center for Dairy Excellence.