With National Ice Cream Day just around the corner, Americans are lining up at scoop shops and grocery checkout lines at near-record numbers to get their favorite flavors of ice cream. Recent data provided to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) show hard ice cream production for the first five months of 2021 running ahead of last year when hard ice cream production set a five-year high with more than 1 billion gallons produced. Through the first six months of 2021, just as the summer season kicked into high gear, retail ice cream sales (grocery) continued to flex their muscle and were slightly behind 2020’s record highs when shoppers couldn’t get enough of America’s frozen treat.

“Ice cream sales set a blazing pace in 2020 and just never let up,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA. “All in all, 2021 is shaping up to be one of the strongest years on record for ice cream production and sales as the U.S. economy opens up and restaurants and food service compete with grocery stores for ice cream sales. Americans love to celebrate National Ice Cream Day every day.”

Ice cream production began its rebound in 2019, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s when overall dairy consumption in the United States reached an all-time high, led by huge growth in cheese, butter, and yogurt. Since the USDA began tracking per capita dairy consumption in the 1970s, the trend has continued upward for five straight decades, increasing 21% since 1975. Overall, USDA data show American per capita dairy consumption across products consistently increasing each year, with 2019 up 6% over the past five years, 10% over the past 15 years, and 16% over the past 30 years.

This year, National Ice Cream Day will be celebrated on Sunday, July 18th. The tradition began in 1984 when President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. National Ice Cream Day has been recognized by the President of the United States ever since.

“Everyone knows President Biden is a huge fan of ice cream and we hope to see him enjoying a cone or dish of his favorite flavor on National Ice Cream Day,” said Dykes. “America’s dairy farmers and dairy foods makers are important to our national economy, and they appreciate the President’s support.”

Each year, IDFA releases data and statistics on ice cream. Here are the latest: 

IDFA ice cream stats: ice cream sales are hot, continuing record pace

IDFA partnered with Research America in 2019 to study U.S. ice cream data and trends.