Each Wednesday throughout National Ice Cream Month, we’ll take a closer look at a part of our home, Lancaster County. This week’s “Taste of Lancaster County” entry is about the many roadside farm stands that dot the countryside. Each Wednesday, we’ll also give away a Lancaster County prize to one commenter chosen at random from this entry. Good luck!
A visit to Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America, wouldn’t be complete without a trip to one of the thousands of roadside farm stands. The farmlands of Pennsylvania Dutch Country boast some of the richest, most productive, non-irrigated agricultural soils in the world. With most of that land devoted to over 6,000 farms, it’s no wonder Lancaster has some of the best produce and fruit around! The fruit and produce you can buy at these stands is among the freshest and most flavorful you can buy. A wide selection of seasonal homegrown treats such as strawberries, tomatoes, sweet corn, cherries will keep you coming back for more.
Turkey Hill Dairy is very proud of Lancaster County’s agricultural heritage, and to help preserve that way of life, Turkey Hill donates a portion of all proceeds from the sale of our All Natural line of ice cream to the Lancaster Farmland Trust. The Lancaster Farmland Trust is a nonprofit organization that works to help preserve farms through conservation easements. When you purchase any All Natural ice cream flavor, you’ll help preserve treasured farmlands and our way of life for future generations. It’s our way of ensuring there’ll always be enough Lancaster County goodness to share.
This week’s Taste of Lancaster County prize will be a basket full of authentic local fruits and vegetables purchased at a local roadside stand. Good luck, and if you’re ever in the area, don’t forget to get yourself some fresh Lancaster County produce!
Tags: lancaster county, turkey hill
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If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.
I certainly enjoy reading the comments of the many Turkey Hill fans!
Every county in USA should have a Farmland Trust
>if you’re ever in the area, don’t forget to get yourself some fresh Lancaster County produce!
we always do! plus baked goods (shoo fly pie, gingersnaps), jarred veggies/fruits, etc.
I sampled the cornucopia of Lancaster County’s bountiful fruits and vegetables as a young girl when my parents took me to eat there at “a table laden with 40 dishes”. Each one was different and delicious! Homemade pie with homemade ice cream was my favorite then and still is. Ever try root beer ice cream; you are in for a treat?!
In 1981(gee, how many years ago was that?!) I made my second foray into the Garden Spot of America and count myself among the limited number of outsiders lucky enough to have been invited into an Amish farmer’s home for a home-cooked meal of chicken and slippery dumplings, a treat I will never, ever forget. My friend and I even got a ride in his horse and buggy;what a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have had in beautiful Lancaster County.
Since the end of May I have been making weekly, sometimes more, trips into the Amish farm country for produce. Right now I am in the middle of canning and freezing that produce. Just today I canned Pickled Peppers, pepper slices in a sweet and sour brine. It is so wonderful, in the dead of winter, to open a jar of home canned peaches. My children always say, “They taste like summer!” We are very blessed in PA to have farms surrounding almost every community! Thanks for this post!
Now that gas prices have skyrocketed through the roof (along with pretty much everything else)I know the farmers are suffering as well. I like the idea of buying fresh produce from local growers instead of the mass produced kind you get in a chain grocery store. It tastes better, fresher, and the $ goes directly into the pockets of hard workers!
Oh Goody! I absolutely LOVE fresh produce. What a gift…not to mention I support our local farmers here as well. I’m glad that a portion of the profit goes to them. YAY
We always by our produce from roadside stands. That’s the best place to get it!
Thank goodness for summer
No stands here
What a great summer treat. Everyday everyone should have some Turkey Hill.
Even though we have traveled through Lancaster County, we have never stopped at one of the roadside stands. Usually we stopped for produce at Shady Maple Market or at the Bird-in-Hand Farmer’s Market. After reading this, we will have to take the time to stop — I’m sure it will be worth it. Thanks for the wealth of information during the past week.
My favorite summer meal is meatless…just cold sliced tomatoes and hot corn on the cob. Simple pleasures when fresh from a farmstand.
We also have some Roadside stands in N.C. – We being one of them. However, I do not beleive that N.C. has anything for us. So congradulations PA.
we have roadside stands here in maryland also. on saturdays produce people bring their produce in town and its called farmers market and people love it.
We get to taste YOUR GREAT crops right here in Souderton Pa. from our road stands that come from you with out the cost of gas,:) BUT we do miss out on your beautiful & great Sights
I like fresh fruit on my ice cream:) With whipped cream of course. Amy
I love roadside stands but have to admit that I often just pass them by. Knowing a good one is coming up when I am driving along allows me to stop in time.
I love buying all of the pickled products at the farmer’s markets
I like your donation to the Farmland trust. Here in NJ many towns NOW have a small addition to our real estate tax to raise funds to buy the developement rights of farmlands which prevents the farms from growing McMansions or big box stores. Keep up the good work and our open space.
I love the story. When I was little and now I try to get my fruits from road side stand. Thank YOu turkey Hill for the story. It is now hard for me to get to one of the stand since I don’t have a car.
I will be sure to buy Turkey Hill all natural ice cream knowing I am helping the Lancaster Farmland Trust. We are fortunate to have roadside stands and a Farmer’s Market here on Saturday and there is nothing like fresh fruits and vegetables, a real difference from what the grocery stores call fresh!
I would love to visit Lancaster County one day, sounds beautiful!
the best food is grown by local farmers and sold at roadside stands. freshly picked is a flavor unsurpassed.
here, where i live, its jersey tomatoes and corn. it is not a lie, if those two products are from jersey, they are better then anywhere else. something to do with the sandy soil.
coming home from the farm with baskets of fruit, corn and tomatoes is one of lifes greatest pleasures, next to eating turkey hill ice cream, of course !
Nothing will ever beat homegrown produce.
Does Turkey Hill purchase the local fruits for TH Ice Cream from local farmers? Great to hear that some of the proceed from all natural TH goes to the Land Trust. Good work TH! WE just got back from one of our local roadside stands with a bounty of fresh fruits and veggies!!! Yum, Yum! we will enjoy this all weekend!
Nothing beats fresh produce right off the farm. I only wish my area had this to offer.
When we go to Lancaster we always stop at the roadside fruit stands. The corn and peaches are delicious, and we bring back enough for the whole family. We love Lancaster. I have been going for about 20 years, the people are so warm and friendly. We stop at Hershey PA. and then back to Lancaster for dinner. There’s nothing like dinner at Miller’s. Beautiful countryside!
I think it’s great that there’s such a Farmland Trust. I never heard of it. I want to say that here in Pottsville,Pa. we have farmers as well. And that myself and husband support all local farmers in buying their items.Especially one named Bob from the Hegin’s area. He’s a good man and one you can trust.
We are lucky to have farmside stands in northern NJ – They are the best – so much better than store bought. There is nothing like fresh fruits and vegies and Turkey Hill
Last Fall we went to Shady Maple Smorgasboard and on the way home stopped at a roadside stand where we found the biggest heads of broccoli and cauliflower that I had ever seen. The price was so cheap and the produce was so good. I hope I get the opportunity to go again this Fall.
It’s great to hear about the wonderful ways Turket Hill helps support our community!
The food is so fresh in Lancaster County.The look,taste and smeel seems to draw you in to join the fun.
I would love to visit Lancaster –it sounds wonderful— I love fresh veggies and fruit—-and Turkey Hill ice cream!!!
Carol
With the price of gas it’s really a hardship to go out to eastern LI for fresh produce. So this year I started my own garden but I still go to the supermarket for my Turkey Hill!
You can also get great garden flowers and such at these stands.
Here in southern NJ we also have many roadside stands with local produce which is much fresher than what is available in the supermarkets,but to my knowledge even ‘tho NJ is “the garden state” no company donates to localfarmers. Keep up the good work Turkey Hill and keep suppling us with all those delicios flavers of ice cream.
One of the best kept secrets in Lancaster County is The Corn Wagon on the Rohrstown Road just off Rt. 324. I am from Reading, but I always go there for my corn on my way to the river. It is the best – and for a low price. But now the secret is out.
My niece and nephew are actually starting work at a roadside stand tomorrow – I just told them to be careful not to eat up the profits!
I’m one of the lucky few “English” who have an intimate friendship with a few Amish families (not bad for a Southern boy from NC). So, on my many trips to PA, I get to enjoy lots of meals in Amish homes. Of course, I take them out for meals or bring in pizza and Turkey Hill for parties too. One of my friends has a pseudo-roadside stand, it’s actually an organic/raw food/raw dairy store that he runs in a side building on his farm. He sells all kinds of grass-fed meats, mercury free fish, eggs, homemade egg noodles, cottage cheese, yogurt, cream, anything dairy, and vegetables. He once served me some homemade ice cream from his jersey cows, but it couldn’t stand up the awesomeness that is Turkey Hill.
Roadside stands are a part of our heritage. I pleased to know they still exist!
If you like homemade root beer, there is a farm/stand off of 340 between Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse that has been making it for years.
The ultimate road side stands are those that serve chicken barbecue!! Nothing beats that smell!
The All Natural/Philadelphia Style ice creams are true classics. Thank you Turkey Hill for giving back to the community through the Lancaster Farmland Trust.
I live in the Niagara Falls area of New York State. We also are very fortunate to have many roadside stands so we can get fresh produce. My husband and I spend a week every summer in the Lancaster, Pa. area because it is so relaxing. We stay away from the chain restaurants and instead enjoy the delicious food at locally owned restaurants.
Ever since 1969 we have been coming to Lancaster for a week in the summer. We took our sons as babies and now they are brnging their wives and babies! It is our most favorite vacation spot and no matter where else we may go in a summer, they always ask for the week in Lancaster. The food is marvelous, the views relaxing and the Amish people to be admired. I am currently reading Amish novels to capture the lifestyle all year round.We buy jam etc. from Kitchen Kettle and take home fresh corn and pickles from the roadsides we pass on the way to Intercourse.
I love Lancaster County. It’s wonderful that you help to keep the farmlands instead of letting commercial enterprises take over.
I also love your ice-cream. It’s the best I’ve tasted, so rich and creamy and very flavorful. Keep up the good work.
I hope that you consider entries made after the posting date as very often when I check the the blog no new entry from Turkey Hill has been posted.
July 24th was Thursday and the 1st posting was at 5:52. It seems as if the postings don’t appear until late in the day or sometimes even the next day?
Despite my posting date issues I LOVE farm stands. Lancaster County sound lovely.
We’re just back from a 4-day weekend in Lancaster County. The best souvenirs we purchased were fresh fruits and veggies from the roadside stands. Thank you Turkey Hill for contributing to the preservation of farmlands! P.S. you’ve got the best ice cream in the world. We’ve done a couple of tours of the Ben and Jerry’s plant in VT, and had to let them know that we preferred Turkey Hill! (They didn’t mind!)
I wish that you had one in scranton,Pa
I read your article on the roadside stands with extra enthusiasm since we will be in the area in a couple weeks and will no doubt be stopping by at least one of those stands. Happy to know T.H. is giving back to help preserve the important, beautiful farmlands.
My wife and I will be visiting the Lancaster area in a couple of weeks. We hope to enjoy some of the locally grown produce. It’s good to hear that Turkey Hill is helping the local farmers AND making GREAT ice cream
I love Turkey Hill Ice Cream & Lancaster!!!!
In away I hope that since the economy is going the way it is, that people rediscover what is local. 99% of the time it’s fresher tastier and supports the local econmy. I’ve discussed in previous post How I go to a few local farms and go apple and pumpkin picking. Well those said same farms Lewin’s and Harbes offer pick your own or pick from the stand all summer long! Now here in NY there are lots of Lancaster County advertisment. Knights, children’s parks, water parks, ahmish country, Inns. Now if I could somehow streamline my 10 year old gas guzzler into a hybrid I’d drive down today, but alas at gas at $4.39 / gal and $20 giving me 1/4 tank I wish Amtrak was closer. But friends from Jersey have been twice and say they’ll be going again soon. I hope to join them before the end of summer.
Thanks Turkey Hill for helping the farmers. All your articles about Lancaster have been great.
Roadside farm stands are the best! It is wonderful that Turkey Hill is helping the farmers and therefore our community in this manner – thank you!
Unfortunately where I live the roadside stands are very few and far between. It broke my heart when one that I did pass on the way home from work disappeared one day and soon there were
new homes going up. Now for me part of any vacation would be just hunting out roadside stands and little local quaint shops. I hope Lancaster never changes!
I’m always glad to hear of a company giving back to their community. Keep on giving back Turkey Hill and producing your great ice cream!
We have the pleasure of many roadside stands in our area. My daughter and I also enjoy The “pick your own blueberry” patch about 1 mile from our house. Nothing better than fresh picked produce. I ‘ve also had the pleasure of purchasing from the stands in Lancaster….great stuff.
P.S. Bob thanks for reminding me of the Great Root Beer off Route 340.. a glass would taste great right now.
we are so blessed to live where we do. we live about a hour from lancaster county. i can’t say enough about the fresh produce etc. sunday drives.
Just bought some sweet corn at a roadside stand, it’s so good. My brother lives in Lancaster and when I go visit I’m so glad there are the roadside stands, nothing beats fresh. Just like Turkey Hill Ice Cream no other brands can beat it. Linda
Nothing beats home grown! Have this month’s lucky winners been announced yet?
I think the vegetables and fruits at the roadside stands around Lancaster are by far the best I’ve ever tasted! Thank you, Turkey Hill, for helping to preserve the farms in the Lancaster County area!!
Oh, I wish I had vacation time coming so I could make a trip to Lancaster this summer to taste some of the vegetables from the stands along the road. I was there, but it was at least 10 years ago.
There are not many roadside stands in my area but we do have a Farmers’ Market every Sunday. They bring their fresh produce in to a shopping center parking lot. You can buy fruits to take home and put on your favorite flavor of Turkey Hill ice cream.
Lancaster County, being less than an hour away, was not only the birthplace of my father, but where I had visited my grandparents AND attended higher education.
What memorable times I have spent visiting which often included Turkey Hill Ice Cream as a treat with an evening drive through the heart of the Amish community on the way home.
I come to visit Lancaster County at least twice a year. I have visited many road side stands. These stands are one of the reasons coming to Lancaster County is so great! The people, food, history, and the old world charm make Lancaster a great place. OH I can’t forget the ice cream lol!!!!
All of my past trips to Lancaster have been in the late fall so I will have to make plans to visit in the summer so I can take advantage of the roadside stands. Fresh from the farm fruits and veggies would be a dream come true!!
Good for Landcaster,and great for Turkey Hill !!!
My child bride of 56 years and I visited Lancaster about 6 years ago and had the time of our lives. We experienced the taste of the stand’s fruits. Nothing like it anywhere else we’ve been. Do you use any of that produce in the manufacture of your ice-cream?
I’m taking my semi-monthly trip to Lancaster County tomorrow to have lunch with a dear friend. Along the way, I plan on stopping at a number of roadside stands for their fresh produce and great prices. Through previous stops, I’ve made friends with both Mennonite and Amish families, and I look forward to seeing/buying from them every year. If you’re in the area, don’t forget to stop at the Bird-In-Hand Farmers’Market and Bake Shop. You won’t be disappointed!
Lancaster County is the most beautiful, for sure. The sights, the tastes, you name it.
I used to live in PA and never got a chance to go to Lancaster County and enjoy the Amish people. I plan to go there this summer though.
sounds like an interesting place to visit
I have always found great foods at the many roadside stands.
My husband and I visited Lancaster County two weeks ago and stopped at one of the farm stands. We had the best corn so far this year. Can’t wait to go out again although it will probably not be until September.
Everything is GREAT in Lancaster especially Turkey Hill Farm Ice Cream! I’d love to win some fresh vegatables & I’d top it off with your peaches and cream ice cream–Yum Yum
Hi I visited Lancaster County for the first time last year & thought it was the most beautiful county,We were in Bird in Hand & a few other some towns what a restful vacation we had & hope to return again & spend more time there.
As a teacher, I thought it important for my junior high “cherubs” to see the magnificent farms, the farmers at work, and fully grasp that they labored without the use of modern equipment. It left a deep impression and a tremendous respect for the farmers. Personally, I’d go to Lancaster County in a heartbeat just to savor its beauty and pristine way of life!
Her in NH farmers markets are becoming more popular each year. We have a very limited dairy industry however.
Last weekend, I loaded up my car (and returned to VA) w Lancaster Co produce-best corn, peaches, apricots, tomatoes…and more!! Thank you TH for helping to preserve the beautiful farms.
We are lucky enough to live an hour or so from Lancaster County and some Saturday mornings my husband will say “why don’t we take a drive to Lancaster” and off we go to enjoy the wonderful foods, shopping and scenery! Thanks Turkey Hill for helping out the farmers and helping to preserve such a beautiful place.
As a life-long lancaster county resident, I would like to thank you for your help in preserving our truly unique part of the country. This area has always, to me, been the true definition of “heartland”.
Taking fresh produce (and sausage) home from Lancaster is a must. But you don’t have to wait until you get home to enjoy the taste of Lancaster. There are a number of great restaurants (such as Mueller’s) that let you celebrate immediately.
I couldn’t agree more! Central PA is the best place in the world for the freshest fruits & veggies! There’s nothing better than a bowl of Turkey Hill vanilla ice cream with some freshly picked, sliced peaches or strawberries over top. Sigh … now I’ve gotta go find some fresh berries and buy another 1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream!
Sure wish we had some of these stands around here. We do have some Amish merchants who come to our farmers’ market during the summer. I love to visit Lancaster County. We try to come every year or two.
I love Lancaster County. I wish it was closer to where I live so I could visit more often!
Love Lancaster area almost as much as I love Turkey Hill Ice Cream and other Turkey Hill products!
Thanks T.H.T. for helping to preservere our precious farmland. In addition to your quality products, this is another reason why our household only purchases T.H. ice cream, and ice tea. We appreciate all your efforts.
I absolutely love roadside farm stands. I live in NJ and actually stopped by one in Jackson this morning. Great sweet corn, tomatoes, and peaches. I haven’t been to Lancaster PA in several years, but, I do recall the great farm stands there. I must make a trip there real soon.
I love roadside produce stands!!! They are so much fun to shop from! We used to have a man near us that not only had standard produce, he grew fancy types of mushrooms and kept bees. The buckwheat honey he had was so dark that it looked like molasses. Boy do I miss that stand!!
I have fond memories (before gas $ problems of the Lancaster Amish Market. Everything was fresh and delicious. Hope to get back there!
Loretta
Enjoy reading the comments from all your fans and love to visit Lancaster County and The Farmers Market, Sincerely Barbara McNabb
Lancaster County and Turkey Hill Dairy a TEErific combination. Wish we had a Turkey Hill Dairy in Los Angeles. Keep up with the great work. Awesome blog.
What a great way to give back to the community, and the Country. Thank You Turkey Hill for you donations to the Lancaster Framland Trust.
We were in Lancaster County this weekend and purchased some home grown vegetables. Always nice to pick up some that we don’t grow in our garden!
we are in the countdown for our lancaster trip, this friday we will be in beautiuful lancaster county and probably stopping at more than one roadside stand.
it sounds so good, the countdown is on.
I just stoped at a farm stand with a friend of mine we got some of the most amazing cherries we added them to our vanilla ice cream!!!!!
Per the survey on your site:
I sometimes don’t only eat the ice cream from the container; I’ve eaten it from the container on the way home from the grocery store – am I the ultimate ice cream piggy?
Fine! OINK OINK – and I eat it like I eat an ice cream cone. Live and let live!
I know a good taste when I savor it!
Love shopping at those roadside stands. Corn and tomatoes are my favorites! Yum.
[...] Original Ice Cream Journal [...]
I found your magazine while I was searching for information to include on my web site (FYI: Turkey Hill will be mentioned, with a link, when I do the page on dairy products). But that is not the point of my note today. Among the other members of Sertoma, I wanted to thank you for your continued valuable support of our chicken bar-b-que over the years. Without it our contributions for the maintenance of Long’s Park would be much smaller. Of course, your support of many other community activities is equally appreciated. Once again, THANK YOU!
I found this page Googling for a list of local farm stands. Glad to see Turkey Hill supporting local farmers.