“The average person in the United States EATS about 6.86 GALLONS (26L) of ICE CREAM per year- the most of any country in the world.”

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 5,000 AWESOME FACTS, FACT # 31 ON DECADENT DESSERTS

Ice cream is a frozen treat made from sweetened cream or milk, often flavored with vanilla, cocoa, or fruit like strawberries and peaches. The mixture is cooled below freezing and stirred to add air and stop ice crystals from forming. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream

The ice cream industry contributes $11.4 billion to the U.S. economy, supporting 27,100 jobs and generating $1.9 billion in wages. The average American eats about 20 lbs of ice cream, or 4 gallons annually, leading to the production of around 1.30 billion gallons of ice cream in 2023, according to https://www.idfa.org/ice-cream-sales-trends.

Some jobs in the ice cream industry include:
1. Quality Assurance Tech – Ensure the ice cream production process follows proper procedures.

2. Ice Cream Manufacturer, Production Operator – Typically works in noisy conditions and can involve strenuous tasks.

3. Dairy Farmer – Dairy farmers work very hard to produce ice cream, cheese, and butter. Ronald Reagan established National Ice Cream Day on the third Sunday in July to honor their efforts.

4. Ice Cream shop manager/Owner- hard work as well. To make a profit margin of 25% means selling 4 dollars worth of product for every dollar spent.

5. Ice Cream Taster – full time quality control, even invents new flavors for ice cream. Top Ice Cream Taster can make up to $100,000 a year.

6. Ice Cream Shop Cashier/Server, serves customers with yummy ice cream and while they may not make much money, they make a lot of people smile.

https://www.payscale.com/career-advice/6-excellent-ice-cream-jobs/ (All pictures where generated with AI)

“Fortune Business Insights estimates the global ice cream market will reach $104.96 billion in 2029, up from $71.52 billion in 2021—a 46% jump in less than a decade due to the world’s craving for ice cream.”

There are various types of ice cream, such as gelato, which is Italian, and custard, which is creamier. Soft serve is common at fast food places and amusement parks. Some ice creams are made from cow’s milk alternatives like goat or sheep’s milk, or substitutes for those who are lactose intolerant, allergic to dairy, or vegan.

Origins of frozen desserts are unclear, but historical accounts exist. Non-dairy frozen desserts similar to sorbet may have started in Persia around 550 BC. A Roman cookbook from the 1st century includes recipes for sweet dishes topped with snow, and Persian records from the 2nd century mention sweet drinks cooled with ice.

Ice cream mentions vary by country. For instance, England’s first recorded mention is in 1671, while France has a mention of “flavored ice” in 1674. Marco Polo from Europe is often credited for introducing sorbet style desserts to Italy after learning about them in his travels to China.

I had a bowl of ice cream this morning—Tillamook’s Dark Chocolate Cookies & Cream and Vanilla Bean. I was craving something sweet, so I indulged. I told myself it was like having a Cafe Mocha with extra cream and sugar. If I have ice cream at home, I end up eating a bowl every day, probably around 6.8 gallons a year, as studies suggest.