Ice-Cream Guru Ben & Jerry's Offers 'Free Cone Day' in Honor of 31st Birthday

It's understandable that during tough times we crave comfort foods. It makes us feel better in that moment, even if we regret it afterward. The recession, while it still incites us to crave comfort food, presents this dilemma: I know I want that special treat, but can I afford to have it?

Well, if your 'comfort food of choice' just happens to be Ben & Jerry's (or you just love ice-cream), look no further than your local Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop for a good price. And by a good price, I mean free. April 21st just happens to be the ice-cream shop's birthday and to celebrate, they're literally giving away their products!

From noon to 8 PM today, stop in for a free scoop of your favorite ice-cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet. An even more delectable reason to stop by is that the Scoop Shops will be stocked up on the latest flavors. Some of these include Orange & Cream, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough and Chocolate Macadamia, an ice-cream that features Fair Trade vanilla, chocolate and sustainably-harvested macadamia nuts.

If you want to find a Ben & Jerry's nearest to you, go to the official Ben & Jerry's website and search the country with the handy Scoop Shop Locator. According to the Burlington Free Press, Ben & Jerry's expects to distribute nearly 2 million free cones across the world.

Ben & Jerry's first got its start in 1978 at a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont. Starting out with a $12,000 investment ($4,000 of it borrowed), friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield worked hard to distribute their ice-cream. In order to spread the word, Ben and Jerry rented space in an old spool and bobbin mill in 1980 in order to pack their ice-cream in pints and sell them to grocery stores out of Ben's VW Squareback wagon. Within a year, the first franchise opened on Route 7 in Shelburne, Vermont.

Environmental issues and activism have always been a part of Ben & Jerry's from the beginning. Following their three part mission statement (Social, Product, Economic), the company has strived to improve quality of life, promote business practices that respect the environment and lead with progressive values.

They have acted out their mission statements in a variety of ways: by starting the Dairy Stewardship Alliance that supports dairy farmers, developing a "green" freezer, paying their employees a livable wage and providing flavors made with Fair Trade ingredients. Furthermore, they've teamed up with many individuals to make a difference through their ice-cream.

The "Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream" is one such example. By working with The Colbert Report's Stephen Colbert, the royalties from the mouthwatering ice-cream (containing fudge-covered waffle cone pieces and caramel swirl) go to the Stephen Colbert AmeriCone Dream Fund, which supports charities for food and medical assistance for underprivileged children, veterans and their families.

For more information on Ben & Jerry's various causes, visit their official website and click "Activism."

Today is Ben & Jerry's 'Free Cone Day', Burlington Free Press.com

Ben & Jerry Official Website