BERLIN HEIGHTS, Ohio – Quarry Hill Orchards and Winery is offering fruit ice creams in its scoop shop throughout the summer. This week’s flavors include peach and cherry.
The fruit ice creams came about as a way to use imperfect and overripe fruit that consumers don’t want. It prevents good fruit from entering the waste stream.
“We can reintroduce that fruit into a value-added offering by freezing and processing with a vanilla ice cream base from Mitchell’s [Homemade Ice Cream],” says Brooke Gammie.
She and her husband Ben are third-generation farmers at Quarry Hill Orchards, which grows cherries, peaches, pears, apples, and berries as well as wine grapes. Second and third generations are also involved.
“It was born of an idea that Ben and I had on our visit to New Zealand for a grower’s tour,” she notes. They imported a Little Gem ice cream machine from New Zealand to make theirs authentically.
Ice cream flavors vary by season.“It’s dependent on what we’re picking and what we’ve stockpiled,” Gammie says. “It changes frequently depending on what’s in the orchard.”
The ice cream is neither hard scoop nor soft serve but a blended product with characteristics of its own.
“Customers say it’s so fruity, fresh, and not overly sweetened,” Gammie says. “It’s a unique treat; it’s perfectly aligned with our brand, using homegrown and local ingredients.”
The vanilla base is from Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, a Cleveland-based company.
For those driving to Berlin Heights to pick or buy fruit and eat fresh-fruit ice cream, Quarry Hill is hosting a Peaches and Cream festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, August 10.
Expect local food and wine, music, peach everything, flower crowns, face painting, and of course, peaches. Visit the Scoop Shop and enjoy an event-only peach ice cream with lavender topping.
