HOWARD — Nothing beats ice cream on a hot summer day, and the people at Nittany Valley Creamery are serving it up straight from the farm at the newly constructed Dairy Barn.
The creamery, 5565 Jacksonville Road, opened the new ice cream stand and store this spring at the end of the farm lane. With views of the sprawling valley and mountains above, it is an aesthetic place to sit and enjoy a treat with family and friends.
The Glick family has owned the farm for generations, said owner Samuel Glick. It has been selling its dairy products wholesale, but now the Dairy Barn allows the family to get its product to the customer in the freshest way possible — right on the farm.
“Our focus is from farm to table as much as possible,” said Glick. “We like to keep the ice cream more on the natural side. This is not your commercial ice cream.”
All the dairy for the ice cream comes from the family’s herd, which grazes the farm’s lush pastures and is also fed non-GMO food, also grown on the farm. Glick said he is committed to providing the cows with quality care and proper diets.
“These cows were born here,” said Glick. “The dairy is produced, processed and sold right on the farm.”
With at least 20 flavors of ice cream to choose from, customers will find a wide variety of flavors for hand-dipped cones, dishes, shakes and sundaes.
From classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate, cookies and cream and strawberry to special concoctions like Mom’s Chocolate Cake, Purple Cow and teaberry, ice cream lovers have plenty of options to choose from.
Glick said they are all delicious, and his favorite —at least for the moment — is Java Jolt.
“It is coffee with a chocolate swirl in it; that is my favorite right now,” said Glick.
Also in the freezer are the family’s ice cream whoopie pies, along with pints, quarts and three-gallon containers of ice cream, which are available to take home. Custom-made ice cream cakes are also available.
Besides ice cream, customers can find farm-fresh cheese, yogurt and milk — both in glass and plastic containers.
Milk varieties include chocolate, strawberry, chocolate peanut butter, cookies and cream and mocha, to go along with standard white.
The Dairy Barn is open Monday (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Wednesday (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Thursday (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Friday (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Saturday (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Some weekends feature cook-outs, serving up hot dogs, chili dogs, burgers and puled pork sandwiches that pair perfectly with ice cream.
This story appears in the July 28-Aug. 3 edition of The Centre County Gazette.
