ANNAPOLIS, MD –Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks today kicked off the 2023 season of the Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail at Rocky Point Creamery in Frederick County. Now in its eleventh year, the Ice Cream Trail is designed to promote the state’s dairy industry and has become increasingly popular, drawing participants from across the state and the region
“Maryland is the birthplace of ice cream in the United States, and the Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trail celebrates our dairy-rich history by connecting Maryland’s on-farm creameries across the state,” said Lt. Gov. Miller. “Our dairy farms add invaluable contributions to our state and I encourage all Marylanders to hop on the trail to cool off this summer and explore all our state has to offer.”
The 2023 Ice Cream Trail features nine on-farm creameries across the state that produce and sell their ice cream directly to consumers. The trail stretches for more than 290 miles from Washington County to Worcester County and encourages the public to learn more about dairy farming and the important contributions of Maryland’s 325 dairy farms. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 2017 Census of Agriculture, dairy farms accounted for more than $174 million in milk product sales in Maryland.
“The Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail is a staple of summer here in Maryland,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. “The added value of on farm creameries is just one of many ways Maryland dairy farmers can remain profitable. I encourage all Marylanders to hit the trail this summer!”
Maryland’s Best Ice Cream ‘Trailblazers’ are asked to snap a photo or selfie at each of the 9 creameries and submit them via email to icecream.trail1@maryland.gov once they have completed the trail. All participants are also encouraged to share their progress on social media using #MDIceCreamTrail.
The 2023 Ice Cream Trail on-farm creameries include: Prigel Family Creamery (Baltimore County), Deliteful Dairy (Washington County), South Mountain Creamery (Frederick County), Rocky Point Creamery (Frederick County), Broom’s Bloom Dairy (Harford County), Keyes Creamery (Harford County), Woodbourne Creamery at Rock Hill Orchard (Montgomery County), Misty Meadow Farm Creamery(Washington County), and Chesapeake Bay Farms (Worcester County).
All completed email submissions will receive a “2023 Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trailblazer” certificate, and one lucky winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to the on-farm creamery of their choice, a copy of the children’s book “Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish,” and the 2023 Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Champion Trailblazer trophy. More information is available at mda.maryland.gov.
The Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail’s 2023 season officially began on May 26 and will run through September 30.
To learn more about the critical role dairy farming has in Maryland and the Northeast, please visit americandairy.com.
