July is National Ice Cream Month

Taking time off from selling weapons to Third World countries and flushing the economy down the toilet, President Ronald Reagan made his best political decision ever. In 1984, he declared July as national ice cream month and the third Sunday of the month (July 15, this year) as National Ice Cream Day.

Believing that ice cream was both fun and nutritional, finally, something we all agree on, Reagan declared in a proclamation that this month and the third Sunday be observed with "appropriate ceremonies and activities". Got it Chief. By the way, does rolling around in a kiddy pool of chocolate ice cream count as "appropriate ceremonies and activities"?

Reagan's Legacy Today

Despite the rise in dairy prices ice cream continues to be on every shoppers list. And not just the traditional flavors of old: Coconut, Green Tea and Ginger are just as popular.

They can't hold a candle to Vanilla though; this flavor remains the number one kind of ice cream every consumer wants, with chocolate, neapolitan, strawberry, and cookies 'n' cream rounding out the top five. (Source: http://www.idfa.org/facts/icmonth/page2.cfm)

Where Does Ice Cream Fall on the Nutritional Scale

According to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) Americans consume over 1.6 billion gallons of the frozen delight a year. In 2005, ice cream and frozen desserts became a multi-billion dollar industry, grossing over $21.6 billion in revenue. Of that whopping number, $8.2 billion was spent on what the big boys like to call "at home" consumption and $13.5 billion was spent on eating ice cream "away from home". (Source: 2006 Dairy Facts/International Ice Cream Association)

No, I Will Not Lighten Up

Americans are not buying the lighter, low fat versions of ice cream either. They want the fat and the flavor. In 2005, regular ice cream accounted for the largest share of the frozen dessert market at 63.8 percent and the lighter, low fat or non-fat versions at very distant 23.5 percent of the market.

Barely scratching the surface is frozen yogurt at 4.3 percent, and sherbet at 3.6 percent.

Trendy Ice Creams - The "Ins" and the "Outs"

Since last summer customers tastes in ice cream have put a few flavors out on the curb. And because Americans are the largest consumers of ice cream in the world it's imperative that you stay on the trends. Who needs politics?

Out: Pumpkin In: Cinnamon

Out: Mint Chocolate Chip (shocking I know) In: Just Mint Baby!

Out: Orange Crush (What?) In: Oreo (That's what I'm talking about)

Also in the running for most popular at the ice cream parlor is pineapple, apple, butter pecan and peanut butter. Move over Rocky Road, there's a new flavor in town!

Sources:

http://www.idfa.org/facts/icmonth/page2.cfm

http://buzz.yahoo.com/