This March 19, Gifford’s Ice Cream will have more to celebrate than its annual season-opening day at its ice cream stands throughout Maine; the family-owned-and–operated ice cream company will be kicking off the beginning of its 30th Anniversary celebration, marking three decades of growing success throughout the northeast.

Following its longtime, opening-day tradition, from 6-8 p.m. on March 19, Gifford’s will welcome springtime by giving away free ice cream cones to visitors at its five family-owned Maine stands. The giveaway has become something of a revered tradition, viewed by Mainers as a “surefire sign that spring is here.”

“Our customers have been devoted fans ever since we opened our first small stand, and their confidence in us makes our 30th Anniversary year that much more special,” said Lindsay Gifford, vice president of sales and marketing.

Gifford’s will be handing out free small cones at all five of its company-owned stands on opening day, March 19, from 6-8 p.m. In addition, delicious treats, such as old-fashioned ice cream sodas, brownie-n-cream sundaes, ice cream cakes, banana splits, sundaes, parfaits, frappes and freezes, will be available at regular prices. Furry canine companions also are invited for “Dog Bone Sundaes.”

The Gifford family’s roots in the New England dairy industry go back to the late 1800s, when Nathaniel Main (Lindsay Gifford’s great great-grandfather) produced and sold milk and ice cream in Pawcatuck, Connecticut. The Gifford children and grandchildren continued their proud family heritage throughout the 1960s, and earned a continuous track record of sales growth and expanded distribution.

In 1967, while milk remained the largest part of the business, Randall Gifford expanded the family enterprise when he built an ice cream stand in Bristol, Conn. Shortly thereafter, the Gifford’s business grew into Maine when they purchased dairies in Farmington and Skowhegan, Maine (where the Gifford’s Ice Cream plant remains today). In 1980, the family made the strategic decision to return to the family tradition of making premium ice cream and opened the first Gifford’s Ice Cream stand in Skowhegan, followed shortly by the Farmington stand in 1982. In 1983, the company sold its milk business to Maine-based Oakhurst Dairy and staked its claim in the ice cream industry. “The rest, as they say,” Gifford added, “is history.”

The Gifford family has long been committed to making all of its flavors using fresh, pasteurized, growth-hormone-free milk from local Maine dairy farms, and their commitment to quality has been recognized by industry professionals and ice cream enthusiasts alike. In addition to consistent, industry-topping annual growth, Gifford’s Ice Cream has repeatedly earned top scores and blue ribbons at important industry competitions, including the National Ice Cream Retailers Association and the New Jersey Ice Cream Festival.

Most notably, Gifford’s has been recognized as “World’s Best Chocolate” twice at the prestigious World Dairy Expo. Late last year, Gifford’s caught the attention of producers at Food Network’s “Unwrapped,” and the local favorite will be featured in an April 2010 episode titled “21st Century Chocolate.”

Today, Gifford’s is sold throughout New England, New York and New Jersey in grocery stores and in hundreds of independently owned ice cream stands. The regional favorite also boasts high profile accounts such as The Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion in New Hampshire, Rutgers University, and the University of Connecticut (UConn).

For more information on opening day, the Gifford’s Cones for Kids program, and other ice cream activities, visit giffordsicecream.com. To sign up for the Gifford’s newsletter, email info@giffordsicecream.com.

MF&L Staff at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.