Nothing says summer like a great scoop of ice cream. Somehow a big, creamy cone has a way of chasing the blues out of sight, rendering kids and adults happier in seconds.
The ice cream experience gets richer and more gratifying when you know where your ice cream comes from — and when you don’t have to pay huge amounts of money for it. These days, a small kids scoop will set you back $3 or more at most ice cream parlors, while an adult sized version can easily rise to $6-$8. Except for one Whatcom County ice cream shop, Edaleen Dairy.
Local Cows, Local Ice Cream
Edaleen Dairy is a Whatcom County institution that has been charming locals and visitors with its great ice cream flavors since 1975. It’s also the only place in the county where a kid can spill their pocket change on the counter and pay just 95 cents for a scoop.
The family farm, owned by Ed and Aileen Brandsma, began in 1975 and has since grown to include 100 employees and 2,500 cows — all of which were born on the farm. “We maintain complete control of the cows’ diet, treatment and milking,” Ed and Aileen note in their marketing collateral. “It’s the only way to guarantee that we’re giving you the best milk that these cows have to offer. Our cows are not treated with growth hormones or fed a questionable diet. They’re happy cows — and there’s a hardworking farmer making sure it stays that way.”
Edaleen Dairy now has stores in Sumas, Lynden, Ferndale and Blaine, some of them open as late as 10:00 p.m. (though not on Sundays — all stores are closed on this day). There are more stores in the planning, but General Manager, Mitch Moorlag, wasn’t at liberty to divulge their locations yet.
Small Business Brings Big Flavor
Folks are patient as they wait in line to order their scoop. That’s because with 26-odd flavors, they know the choice is a difficult one to make. Kids taste and deliberate when it’s their turn at the front of the line, and relaxed parents smile and let them take their time. That’s because anyone who’s ever enjoyed an ice cream cone knows that half the fun is choosing the right flavor. An ice cream outing with the family is not one to be rushed.
Moorlag said that when they started making ice cream the business began with just one flavor, vanilla. Despite the plethora of other flavors, vanilla is still number one on the best-seller list, accompanied by bubblegum, a close second. Among the many flavors in between are raspberry cheesecake, chocolate chip peanut butter nut, cappuccino chip, white chocolate raspberry, Fudgy Wudgy (who could resist a name like that?) and coffee almond fudge. The crew at Edaleen adds and subtracts flavors all year long, so look out for peanut butter blast this summer and cranberry fruit medley in the fall.
Though it’s one of the five largest dairies in Whatcom County, Edaleen Dairy is still essentially a small, family farm, Moorlag says. “Ed’s number one philosophy is that you’ve got to take care of the cows. Take care of the cows, and they’ll take care of you. That’s reflected in what the cows are fed and how they’re handled,” he explains. “They’re the hardest working employees in the company.”
More than Ice Cream
My family often stocks up on basic dairy supplies while we’re waiting to order our scoops. Edaleen’s sells milk, chocolate milk, buttermilk, half-and-half, whipping cream, strawberry milk and eggnog during the holiday season. There are yogurts and both hard and soft cheeses in the refrigerator, as well as massive tubs of ice cream in the freezer if you need to bring some home. If you’re in search of a last-minute dessert, there’s also a good selection of pies and cheesecakes in the freezer, made by local county entrepreneurs.
Don’t be terribly surprised at the low number on the cash register when you reach the front of the line. A regular scoop will set you back $2.10 and a large sells for just $2.65, making Edaleen’s the most reasonably priced ice cream store around.
My family stops at Edaleen’s every time we’re in the area. It’s a high-calorie family tradition that’s just too yummy to pass by. Check it out this season, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself returning time and time again. For more information about Edaleen Dairy, its products and more, visit Edaleen Dairy online or at one of its four locations across Whatcom County.
