| Ice cream is often called "The Great American | | | | leadership among all other countries in the |
| Dessert". Although the product is typically | | | | production of ice cream. The industry grew slowly |
| American, the U.S. cannot claim its origin. Very | | | | until about 1900, when the output of ice cream |
| little is known of the early history of ice cream; | | | | did not exceed 25 to 30 million gallons per year. |
| however, the product is definitely known to have | | | | The annual production has been on a continuously |
| been introduced from Europe. The ice cream | | | | increasing rate, with production of both soft and |
| industry as we know it today, however was | | | | hard ice cream now at more than one billion |
| wholly developed in the United States. | | | | gallons. This represents a per capita consumption |
| Ice cream undoubtedly evolved from iced | | | | of more than 19 pounds. Approximately 9% of |
| beverages and fruit ices that were popular in | | | | the total U.S. milk production is utilized by the ice |
| early medieval periods, some of which probably | | | | cream industry. |
| contained milk or cream. The practice, in early | | | | The types of dairy products that can be made |
| times, of cooling drinks in ice and snow containing | | | | and served directly from dispensing freezers are |
| salt is a matter of record. It seems possible that | | | | endless. There are literally hundreds of formulas |
| in overcooling some of these punches, the "ice" | | | | for ice cream mixes, ranging from plain vanilla to |
| was discovered. At any rate, various records of | | | | parfait (an extremely rich mix, high in butterfat |
| frozen fruit flavored ices have been found in | | | | content and also containing fresh eggs). In |
| European history and frozen ices are still more | | | | addition, there are mixes for custard, sherberts, |
| popular in continental Europe than in the United | | | | sorbets, frappes, souffles and milkshakes. All of |
| States and Canada. | | | | these products can be made in the standard soft |
| The United States has gained undisputed | | | | ice cream or milkshake dispensing freezer. |