Ice cream, gelato, and frozen yogurt are popular desserts in the United States. These and other sweet, frozen treats are enjoyed in about 90% of households throughout the country. In addition to indulging for dessert, many Americans do so between meals. It wouldn’t be surprising to learn that some Americans may have a bowl of ice cream or frozen yogurt topped with fruit as a meal by itself.
Every year in the United States, there are roughly 1.5 billion gallons of ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, and similar desserts produced. Most of the ice cream, however, is churned in June. Even though people reach for ice cream throughout the year, it is often associated with summer and a great way to cool off in the heat. Since July is National Ice Cream Month, chances are more is produced in anticipation of this celebratory time.
The International Ice Cream Association member companies conducted a survey recently. The results showed that vanilla continues to be the most popular flavor for 28% of their consumers. Since there are so many other delicious flavors available, many Americans may alternate between vanilla and other favorites.
The NPD Group conducted research on how often people enjoy ice cream in the United States. The results of the survey showed that 40% of Americans will enjoy ice cream at least once during any given 2-week period. Over the course of this year, it is predicted that Americans, on average, will enjoy ice cream 28.5 times. Since this is just the average American, chances are others consume more.
Many people in the United States alternate between ice cream and frozen yogurt. By the end of 2013 alone, there were approximately 2,582 frozen yogurt stores located throughout the country. Many specialty ice cream shops, however, will offer frozen yogurt, gelato, and non-dairy desserts to their customers.
When Americans go out for a dish of frozen yogurt, ice cream, or another type of frozen treat, they often like to sample new flavors. As a result, they go through quite a few frozen yogurt spoons. It’s as if that container of shiny plastic frozen yogurt spoons is an invitation to explore new as well as familiar taste sensations.