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Thursday, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced the launch of the Massachusetts Ice CreamTrail, an initiative celebrating the rich history of ice cream making in the Bay State and encouraging residents and visitors to explore the flavors and experiences offered by more than 100 ice cream destinations across Massachusetts, but none, alas, in Franklin.
The trail was developed by the Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), and the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT).
Dairy farms, once a dominant business in Franklin, “are the backbone of the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “They provide the essential ingredients for our delicious ice cream and contribute significantly to our state’s economy and rural character. With this new attraction, we’re making Massachusetts a top destination for ice cream enthusiasts and celebrating our rich agricultural heritage.” According to the state news release, ewer than 100 dairy farms still exist statewide.
This new tourism trail is designed to invite residents and visitors to experience the state’s “creative dessert offerings at traditional parlors, innovative shops, and local farm stands,” according to the Administration press release.
The Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail map serves as a guide to sweet summer explorations. The guide invites residents and visitors to embark on a self-guided tour of the state’s ice cream destinations and learn about the remaining cadre of Massachusetts dairy farmers who raise the cows that produce at least some small portion of the fresh milk and cream used to create ice cream treats.
Dairy farming has been a part of Massachusetts agriculture ever since European settlers brought cows to the Plymouth Colony in 1624. As permanent settlements were established, cattle played an important role in providing meat, leather, manure and, of course, milk and other dairy products to allow the colony to flourish. Intensive and specialized dairy farming as it is practiced today dates to the late 19th
century with the growth of cities and improvements in rail transportation that created opportunities for farmers in areas such as Franklin. Garelick Farms, now purely a dairy processing operation, has roots in an actual dairy farm dating back a century or more.
Some of the nearby Ice Cream Trail locations included on the state map are Crescent Ridge Dairy Bar in Sharon, Bubbling Brook in Westwood, Furlong’s in Norwood, and Oake Knoll Farms and Ice Cream Beach Club, both in Foxborough.
