UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — To mark its 160th anniversary — and National Ice Cream Month — Penn State’s Berkey Creamery has released a new “Cow to Cone” video, giving ice cream enthusiasts a behind-the-scenes peek at how the creamery’s ice cream artisans craft their frozen masterpieces.
The video takes ice cream lovers on a full tour of the process — from milking the herd to serving that perfect scoop — highlighting firsthand how science and tradition combine at this celebrated campus landmark, according to Jim Brown, manager of sales and marketing.
“The new video offers not just an inside look at the creamery’s operations, but it’s a flavorful tribute to 160 years of Penn State’s dairy excellence,” he said. “While highlighting our production process, the video also celebrates the creamery’s legacy and impact on food science and community engagement. With July being National Ice Cream Month, it couldn’t come at a better time.”
The video begins with footage at the Penn State dairy barns, where a herd of more than 200 Holsteins provides most of the milk that is transported to the creamery’s processing plant. Here, it undergoes pasteurization and homogenization, is blended with sugar, cream and flavorings, and is expertly churned.
The video brings to life the technique and care behind achieving smooth textures, proper aeration, and freezing — and shows the final stages, during which the ice cream is packaged, hardened and tempered to achieve perfect creaminess.
Finally, the famous ice cream is served at the creamery’s retail store at the University Park campus, distributed through wholesale partners such as Penn State’s Housing and Food Service locations, and shipped to fans nationwide via online ordering on the creamery’s website.
The full video is now available to stream on the creamery’s website and YouTube channel, inviting ice cream lovers and Penn Staters everywhere to appreciate the story behind each scoop.