As the warm summer months approach, schools dismiss for vacation, the hum of lawn mowers fills the air, and swimming pools become popular retreats from the humidity. Grills are fired up to cook the traditional picnic fare of hamburgers and hot dogs, and cravings for the frozen staple of summer begin: ice cream.
One local brand of ice cream has been in existence for more than 120 years. Hershey’s Ice Cream began in a Lancaster County farmhouse in 1894 and was founded by Jacob Hershey and his four brothers, none of whom have any relation to Milton S. Hershey and the Hershey Company.
When the business outgrew the farmhouse, the Hershey Creamery Company moved to Harrisburg. At the time, Harrisburg was ideal for manufacturing the product and was a central location that allowed the perishable desserts to be distributed more efficiently.
In 1926, Hershey’s Ice Cream constructed an ice cream plant on Cameron Street in Harrisburg, a location that is still used today for main offices, support services and a modern plant. During the great depression, Hershey’s Ice Cream was the first ice cream manufacturer to offer prepackaged pints of ice cream. The option was economical and began the tradition of enjoying ice cream from home.
After World War II, the United States became all about convenience. In order to keep up with the demands of the on-the-go culture, Hershey’s Ice Cream developed novelty desserts such as ice cream sandwiches and popsicles that could be eaten on the run.
Even though the offerings of Hershey’s Ice Cream have grown over the years, the company still remains committed to providing quality items. In their earlier days, the Hershey Creamery Company maintained quality and freshness by packaging ice cream in metal-lined wooden containers created by the Hershey brothers, surrounding the containers with dry ice, and delivering them all over Central Pennsylvania.
Today, creating a quality ice cream includes using fresh ingredients. Fresh cream and condensed milk are delivered to the plant on a daily basis; pure vanilla extract and the highest quality chocolate ensures that Hershey’s Ice Cream meets that goal. The company even toasts their own almonds, walnuts, and pecans on site at the plant.
These ingredients combine to create Hershey’s premium flavors of ice cream such as butter almond, peanut butter cup, coconut, and chocolate chip cookie dough. New flavors include peanut butter pretzel and salty caramel truffle.
However, ice cream isn’t the only item the Hershey Creamery Company produces. They also make sherbet, sorbet, frozen yogurt, Bene-Vita Greek frozen yogurt, and many varieties of novelty treats such as cones.
The Hershey Creamery Company’s newest initiative is the Shake Shop Express, self-serve drink blending machines found on college campuses, at medical centers, and at convenience stores that allow customers to mix their own milkshakes and smoothies.
Currently, Hershey’s Ice Cream serves over 28,000 customers per year across twenty-five states, yet it remains based in its Harrisburg location. The Holder family owns the Hershey Creamery Company and has since the 1920s.
In order to beat this summer’s impending heat, consider creating a new summer tradition and cool off with an ice cream cone or sundae from Central Pennsylvania’s very own Hershey’s Ice Cream.
To locate Hershey’s Ice Cream near you:
www.hersheyicecream.com/HICstorelocator.html
For recipes:
