When you hear “ice cream,” what comes to mind?

Is it the faint sound of the ice cream truck off in the distance that gets louder by the second? Or is it a picture of the perfect banana split from your favorite ice cream stand?

Whatever comes to mind puts you in the right mindset for a sweet treat, and the best time of year to have this mental image is right now.

July is National Ice Cream Month, and here in Northeast Indiana, we have a rich history and a successful manufacturing scene, to make it the perfect place to celebrate this delicious month.

In the United States, ice cream gained popularity in the 18th century and has since become a staple of American culture. Today, the average American consumes about 20 pounds of ice cream each year, roughly four gallons. According to an International Dairy Food Association survey, most ice cream companies are family-owned and have been in operation for more than 50 years. In 2021, ice cream makers in the U.S. churned out more than 1.3 billion gallons of ice cream.

Indiana ranks 14th nationally in milk production and is second in the country in ice cream production, per the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

Northeast Indiana plays a vital role in the ice cream industry. Our region boasts a concentration of ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturing jobs that are over seven times the national average. From 2018 to 2023, employment in this industry in our region increased by 8.5 percent.

The region’s most prominent company in the ice cream industry is Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream in Fort Wayne, which employs around 500 people. This facility is the largest Drumstick producer in the country, making 3.4 million Drumsticks every day.​Recently, Dreyer’s invested over $145 million in an expansion of its Fort Wayne production facility and anticipates 145 additional jobs by the end of this year.

If you are looking for the best places to get ice cream in Northeast Indiana, there are several fantastic options. The Stand in Fort Wayne, DeeZertz in Berne, JR’s Dairy Sweet Drive Inn in Wolf Lake, the Old 27 Ice Cream Shop in Decatur, Blue Moon in Garrett or Scoops in Angola offer classic flavors to creative creations, having something for everyone. Even the ice cream sundae at DeBrand is something any sweet tooth would devour.

So go out and celebrate National Ice Cream Month with a scoop (or two) of your favorite flavor or your favorite ice cream treat, like a Drumstick.