National Ice Cream Month (and National Ice Cream Day as the third Sunday in July) was designated by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 with Proclamation 5219. The International Dairy Foods Association celebrates each year by holding an ice cream party on Capitol Hill.
The origin of ice cream dates back to at least the time of Emporer Nero in Rome, 54-68 A.D. Historians have found evidence of ice or snow being harvested and infused with honey and other flavors to make ice cream. Alexander the Great is said to have favored a slushie-type icy drink with honey and nectar.
The International Dairy Foods Association conducts an annual Ice Cream Trends Survey. In 2024, vanilla continues to top the list of favorite flavors. The top 5 flavors among Americans are:
1. Vanilla
2. Chocolate
3. Strawberry
4. Butter Pecan
5. Cookie Dough
Tennessee Ice Cream History
Mayfield ice cream was first sold in 1923 by Mayfield Creamery in Athens, TN in McMinn County. Mayfield Dairy Farms began as a small family farm raising Jersey cows, founded by T.B. Mayfield, Sr. in 1870. In 1910, T.B. Mayfield, Jr. began selling milk to local residents. He opened the pasteurized milk plant in the area in 1922 before purchasing an ice cream freezer the following year. A member of the Mayfield family even invented the first “zipper opening” for cardboard ice cream cartons in 1962!
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