CARLISLE, PA — The 2025 Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail launched this week at Destiny Dairy Bar in Cumberland County, marking the start of a summer-long celebration of Pennsylvania’s thriving dairy industry. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger joined local officials, dairy farmers, and community members at the kickoff event.
“Pennsylvania ice cream is the sweetest you’ll find anywhere,” said Secretary Redding. “Meeting a farm family, seeing where they work their magic, and trying fresh-made local ice cream makes summer even sweeter when you know your purchases help support Pennsylvania farms and keep our economy thriving.”
Destiny Dairy Bar, located at the third-generation Stover Farms, was the ideal setting for the event. Visitors to the farm can interact with animals in the petting zoo, feed calves, and enjoy a rotating menu of ice cream flavors while learning about the nutritional benefits of A2 milk. Speaking on the significance of the trail, Destiny Dairy Bar Owner and Stover Farms Herd Manager Amy Brickner shared, “This trail is all about celebrating the small, local creameries that pour their heart into every scoop. For me, it’s about more than just great ice cream — it’s about helping families connect where their food comes from and create memories that last a lifetime.”
A Sweet Adventure Supporting Dairy
Since its creation in 2018, the Ice Cream Trail has encouraged tourists and locals alike to visit Pennsylvania’s creameries. This year’s trail includes 51 stops across the Commonwealth, inviting participants to connect with local farm families while tasting handcrafted ice cream. The initiative is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s PA Preferred® program, DCED’s Tourism Office, and the Center for Dairy Excellence.
“Pennsylvania’s dairy farms are an integral part of the fabric that makes up our rich agricultural and culinary history,” said DCED Secretary Siger. “Pennsylvania’s Ice Cream Trail is a delicious way for visitors to support local businesses while spending time with friends and family. The Shapiro Administration will continue to find new ways to lift up and invest in the Commonwealth’s tourism and agricultural industries so that we can preserve our history, support small businesses, and strengthen our economy.”
Participants in the Scooped Ice Cream Trail can plan their routes and collect rewards using a digital passport. Visitors earn points by stopping at trail locations and making purchases between May 30 and September 7, with prizes available for frequent travelers. Rewards include a commemorative tumbler for visiting six stops and eligibility for a grand prize drawing after 10 stops. The grand prize is an overnight Lancaster County getaway offering a firsthand “life on the farm” experience.
The Backbone of Pennsylvania’s Economy
With nearly 5,000 dairy farms, Pennsylvania ranks as the eighth-largest producer of milk in the United States. The industry boasts 468,000 dairy cows that generate 10 billion pounds of milk annually, contributing more than $11.8 billion to the state economy and supporting over 47,000 jobs.
“Pennsylvania also ranks third in ice cream production, second in butter, and fourth in sour cream,” said Emily Barge, Communications and Marketing Manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence. “With 99 percent of our state’s dairy farms being family owned, the Ice Cream Trail is a fun way for families from Pennsylvania and beyond to actually meet the dairy farm families who work around the clock, 365 days a year, to produce delicious dairy products and farm-fresh ice cream.”
The trail also highlights the economic and cultural importance of Pennsylvania’s dairy industry while fostering connections between farmers and ice cream enthusiasts. According to Brickner, celebrating local creameries provides a unique opportunity to engage with Pennsylvania’s agricultural heritage. “We love seeing kids meet the cows, try new flavors, and experience the farm in a hands-on way,” Brickner said.
With its combination of family-friendly activities, exceptional ice cream, and economic support for farms, the Scooped Ice Cream Trail delivers sweetness in every scoop while promoting the best of Pennsylvania’s agricultural legacy.
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