Profile America: July is National Ice Cream Month

Washington / DC. (gov) One of the joys of summer and sins of consumption goes back to this date in 1786 when commercially made ice cream was first advertised in New York City. Until then, ice cream was a privately prepared treat, but the New York Post Boy announcement stated that anyone «may be supplied with ice cream every day at the City tavern by their humble servant, Joseph Cowe». However, the supply was as limited as the technology of the age, and ice cream did not become a widespread favourite until the advances in electrical power and refrigeration in the early 20th century. In 1910, Americans on average consumed a little less than two pounds of ice cream a year. Today, that figure is over 19 pounds, including low fat types. Making ice cream and frozen desserts is a 7.8 billion USD a year business – according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In the United States, National Ice Cream Month is celebrated each year in July and National Ice Cream Day on the third Sunday in July.