There’s just about nothing better than ice cream on a hot summer day. This makes it feel fitting that National Ice Cream Month is July. As a staff, we love all our fun dairy treats around the state. While talking through all the different places we love, we decided to highlight a few that stood out to us.

Dairy Joy, located in Biddeford, was our Executive Director Sarah Littlefield’s choice. This shop has been family owned and operated since the 1940s. They are known for their homemade soft serve and Maine-made hard ice cream. They have weekly rotating soft serve flavors that keep innovation alive and a sense of excitement for customers. If you want to peek at their delicious creations, check out their Facebook page. Dairy Joy pairs this innovation with an old-school walk-up counter. Sarah stated, “I think what makes their place special is the nostalgia it brings to the community.” It’s clear the nostalgic atmosphere Dairy Joy brings is a staple to the people of Biddeford. Sarah’s favorite flavor is Java Berry, which is twisted coffee and black raspberry.

Fielder’s Choice is a Maine staple with six locations throughout the state. Office Manager Meredith Fahey chose this shop because “it’s extra thick and creamy and they use high-quality ingredients. Portions are generous and reasonably priced. I like that they are a Maine, family-owned business and make their own ice cream.” She has visited the Manchester location the most and likes how they have plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy and are pet friendly. You can’t forget a pup-cup for your four-legged friends! Fielder’s Choice has been around for 20 years. They want their customers to enjoy the finest quality ice cream while creating memories that last a lifetime. Meredith’s favorite hard serve flavors are Coffee Heath and Coffee Oreo, with Mocha Chip coming in a close third. You’re sure to find something you enjoy as they take pride in their classic and unique flavors as well as their homemade brownies and cookies.

Our School Nutrition Programs Manager Catherine Hoffmann chose two shops she enjoys in the DownEast region. Morton’s Moo began in 2003 in a vintage shop near Acadia National Park. They offer classic flavors with a Maine twist. They also put an emphasis on using local ingredients whenever possible. You are hit with a feeling of instant joy when you enter their shop, with lots of fun décor and bright colors. Katie’s favorite flavor is The Nutty Bovine (chocolate-coconut base with toasted almonds & chocolate chips). She describes it as being “simply moovelous, and their coffee Heath Bar is a perfect complement on a double scoop sugar cone!” Pugnuts Ice Cream Shop was Katie’s second pick. This is another fun shop with cool flavors and are also dog friendly. You can not only get their ice cream in their shop, but they sell pints in stores around the area. “The Coffee Crunch Gelato (I know it’s National Ice Cream Month, but there isn’t a National Gelato Month) is SOOOOO good!!  Their Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream is pretty special, too”, said Katie. She enjoys both shops for the same reason. “They are fun to visit with lots of visual interest, dozens of silky smooth-crunchy-chewy ice cream flavors and places to sit and linger while you enjoy whatever treat you choose.”

Now the shop I chose is not exactly ice cream but as previously mentioned, there’s no National Gelato Month. Gelato Fiasco first opened their doors in 2007. They have multiple locations, with their flagship store in Brunswick and a storefront in Portland’s Old Port. They also have gelato trucks to serve their creations on the road. They make all their gelato the Maine way, taking their time to craft only the most delicious products for their customers. With such a long list of flavors, I was able to choose my favorite three. This summer they brought back a retired flavor, Thai Iced Tea, that I was fortunate to try. Espresso Chip (hand-pulled organic espresso with thick slivers of Ghirardelli chocolate.) and Stracciatella Gelato (chocolate chip with elegance with vanilla beans and abundant chocolate slivers.) are my next favorite choices. This shop takes pride in using local ingredients and you can really taste the difference. Things that stand out about this shop to me are their long list of creative flavors and their gelato truck located in the Portland Eastern Promenade. Cooling off with a gelato while watching the boats in the water is a perfect summer activity.

One thing is clear; there are endless spots in Maine to find a tasty frozen treat. More shops we’ve highlighted before include Sweetcream Dairy and Mount Desert Island Ice Cream. Even though Ice Cream Month is in July, you should celebrate all year long!