WASHINGTON, June 12, 2024—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today hosted more than 1,000 members of Congress and congressional staff at its 40th Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party—Washington’s must-attend summertime event. IDFA staff and leaders from U.S. ice cream makers served more than 950 gallons of ice cream, 1,200 ice cream novelties, and 32 ice cream cakes during the event, which was held in Union Square Park in front of the U.S. Capitol Building.
The 40th Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party showcased the ice cream industry’s most popular flavors, including America’s favorite, vanilla, classic and regional favorites like Butter Pecan and Black Cherry, and award-winning prototype flavors like Insta Graham. The event annually celebrates the ice cream industry’s economic and social benefits for communities across the United States. Because IDFA and the U.S. dairy industry are committed to a more sustainable future, ice cream provided at the Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party is served in compostable cups, spoons and napkins.
The 40th Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party was made possible by the generous product and services donations from these IDFA member companies: Americold Logistics, LLC; Blue Bell Creameries, L.P.; Gifford’s Dairy Inc.; Graeter’s Ice Cream Company; Hershey Creamery Company; HP Hood LLC; The Ice Cream Club, Inc.; Mars; Perry’s Ice Cream Company, Inc.; Pierre’s Ice Cream Company; Rich Products Corporation; Stanpac Inc.; Tillamook County Creamery Association; Turkey Hill Dairy, Inc.; and Wells Enterprises, Inc.
IDFA Ice Cream Stats:
- The average American eats roughly 20 pounds of ice cream each year, or about 4 gallons.
- Fortune Business Insights estimates the global ice cream market will reach $97.85 billion in 2027, up from $71.52 billion in 2021—a 37% jump in less than a decade due to the world’s craving for ice cream.
- U.S. ice cream makers contribute $11.4 billion to the U.S. economy and support 27,100 dairy industry jobs, according to IDFA’s Dairy Delivers economic impact report.
- In 2023, ice cream makers in the U.S. churned out 1.30 billion gallons of ice cream.
- The majority of U.S. ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturers have been in business for more than 50 years, and many are still family-owned businesses.
- National Ice Cream Day is Sunday, July 21. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities."
- Thomas Jefferson is credited as the first American to write down an ice cream recipe.
More information about ice cream is available on IDFA’s website: www.idfa.org/news-views/media-kits/ice-cream.
# # #
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3.2 million jobs that generate $49 billion in direct wages and $794 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.