Ben & Jerry's Factory

Ah, that 7 minute movie proves it. Unilever’s cover-up of the killings of Ben & Jerry continues. There’s been no new pictures of them for like 20 years! Where are they??

Enjoy the ice-cream…but if you want seconds come on down the road to Crossroads (the Citco Station) at the intersection of Rt. 2 and Rt. 100—and get a pint to go!

I’ve been on a different ice cream factory tour (Blue Bell, in Texas) and enjoyed the view of their (larger) production floor much more. I guess it’s just hard to see what’s going on here. Still an interesting stop on our trip.

What was the deal with the movie, where they constantly refer to B&J as “real guys” yet they never speak or appear in any live video (I understand they are no longer “involved” with the company, but it’s still weird).

The $3 admission was worth it, I guess. A good excuse to take a leisurely drive and stop and eat ice cream in that lovely state (if you’re visiting in, say, the summer rather than the winter) and support the local (St. Albans) farmers.

Also: Hwy 100 running south through the state was a lovely alternative to taking 89 all the way up (but it’s mostly one lane in each direction, if you hate that sort of thing).

I worked at Ben & Jerry’s through college – I loved the place, the morals, and the character of it all. Proof positive you can have fun ethically and produce a great business as well.

Going to the factory would be a great experience – except for visiting the dearly departed flavors – some of which I wish would be resurected.

I tried desperately to find the flavor graveyard, but you know what they say about men and directions… my new bride was convinced the graveyard was a joke, and got quite upset at my continued attempts to track it down.

We didn’t speak until we crossed the border into New Hampshire.

We went in the dead of winter. Although the free ice cream samples were deeelicious (baileys and chocolate) and out of this world fresh, the tour was only three rooms: a 7 minute movie (without Ben and Jerry actually speaking in it), a room full of ice cream making machinery (sorta boring), and a sample room painted in color. The hallway with memorabilia was interesting, but not worth the few extra hours it takes to get to this out of the way place.

One reason: free ice cream samples. Yum yum

Check out the flavor graveyard. It’s kinda funny. Besides, it has a nice view of some Vermont countryside.

Cherry Garcia. End of story.

it was fun but would have been more fun if it had been open =P