Md. 'Ice Cream Trail' Leads Those With Sweet Tooth Across The State
GLEN ARM, Md. (WJZ) -- Warmer weather means many people are out looking for some cool ice cream. But this year, how about making that trip an adventure?
Marcus Washington explains how a trip for ice cream could lead you on a trail across the state.
For the past five years, the Department of Agriculture has held the "Ice Cream Trail," leading Marylanders to all the local farm creameries in the state.
Less than 15 minutes outside of Baltimore City in Glen Arm, you can find the Prigel Family Creamery.
"I start five o'clock in the morning milking cows," said Bobby Prigel, Prigel Family Creamery.
The creamery business is just six years old, but the farm itself has been in the family for more than a century.
"You know, 30 years ago, there were about 6,000 dairy farms. There are about 400 now. So we need the local support," said Prigel.
That support is coming with some help from the Department of Agriculture, launching its "Ice Cream Trail" -- a designated tour of the nine local farm creameries in the state. Each one holds a unique experience and a lesson on Maryland agriculture.
"Everybody talks about sustainable agriculture. You're really helping sustainable family farms make it in the struggles of today's world," said Joseph Bartenfelder, secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
When you talk about organic ice cream, you can't get any more organic than you do at the Prigel Family Creamery. That's because all of the ice cream is made from the milk produced by the 150 cows they have on the family farm.
"Fresher, creamier, softer," said Anna and Allie Dolce, ice cream lovers.
"I never take that for granted. Every time I see a car in here, I thank the lord for that. It's such a blessing that people want to come here. I don't take that for granted," said Prigel.
The "Ice Cream Trail" is truly a family event. Not only do you get to eat the ice cream, but you can see all the things that go into making the sweet, cold treat that you love so much.
"They get a view that we're real people and we need them as much as they need us," said Prigel.
Currently, there are 443 dairy farms in the state of Maryland. Only nine of them have a creamery.
