MEDIA ADVISORY: 2013 Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail to Officially Open May 22; All Marylanders Invited to Become Trailblazers

Kilby Cream in Cecil County will host the launch of the 2013 Ice Cream Trail (Photo by Edwin Remsberg)

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance and Deputy Secretary Mary Ellen Setting will officially open the 2013 Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail on May 22 at Kilby Cream in Cecil County and urge Marylanders to visit at least some of the stops on the trail during the Memorial Day Weekend. Anyone who completes their Ice Cream Trail passport by visiting every stop on the trail and answering a question from each creamery between May 22 and Sept. 9 will have their passport entered into a drawing to be named the 2013 Ice Cream Trail Blazer. Last year’s Trail Blazer Dawn Farris of Elkton (Cecil County) will be on hand at the launch with her two children to get a start on what she hopes will be a repeat win.

The 2013 Ice Cream Trail is a bit more challenging than last year’s as it includes eight dairy farms – one more than last year – that produce and sell ice cream directly to consumers right on the farm. This year, trail blazers will also have to get the answer to a different dairy-related question at each creamery and enter the answers on the passport. Residents can pick up an Ice Cream Trailblazer Passport at any of the eight creameries (or download it online at www.marylandsbest.net) after May 22. The person selected as the 2013 Trail Blazer will win a $50 gift certificate to their favorite creamery and other prizes.

WHAT: The Official Opening of the 2013 Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail

WHEN: Wed., May 22, at 11:00 a.m

WHERE: Kilby Cream, 129 Strohmaier Lane, Rising Sun, MD 21911.

WHO: Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance, Deputy Secretary Mary Ellen Setting and the 2012 Trail Blazer Winner Dawn Farris of Elkton will officially unveil the Ice Cream Passports and enjoy the first official ice cream scoop on the 2013 Trail Blazer promotion.

WHY: The purpose of the Ice Cream Trail is to highlight the important contributions of Maryland’s 496 dairy farms which accounted for $188 million in sales in 2012; and to increase the public’s general understanding of dairy farming by encouraging them to visit a farm and see what dairy farming is really like, all while enjoying delicious, locally produced ice cream.

Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail includes the following eight farms:

1. Broom’s Bloom Dairy (Harford County)

2. Chesapeake Bay Farms (Worcester County)

3. New: Keyes Creamery (Harford County), opening June 15

4. Kilby Cream in Rising Sun (Cecil County)

5. Misty Meadows Farm Creamery (Washington County)

6. Prigel Family Creamery (Baltimore County)

7. Rocky Point Creamery (Frederick County)

8. South Mountain Creamery (Frederick County)

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