Imagine my surprise when I learned that, come April, my chance to contribute to the fight against global warming would be sitting in the nearest grocer's freezer.
Ben and Jerry's, the popular ice cream franchise started right across the border in Waterbury, Vt., unleashed its newest scoop of heaven in their "scoop shops", or franchise stores, this month. In conjunction with Dave Matthews Band and SaveOurEnvironment.org, Ben and Jerry's promises customers that the new flavor will please not only palates, but the environment as well, by campaigning against global warming.
Dubbed "One Sweet Whirled," the flavor combines caramel and coffee ice creams with marshmallow and caramel swirls and coffee flavored fudge chips. A witty spin off the Dave Matthews Band song, "One Sweet World," it comes third in a line of musically-inspired ice cream concoctions by Ben and Jerry's, which included the popular flavors "Cherry Garcia" and "Phish Food."
The texture and taste of "One Sweet Whirled" certainly does not disappoint. While the sugar from the caramel and marshmallow swirls is a bit overpowering, the bittersweet coffee and smooth fudge chips sooth the senses.
The new combination is more cultured than the comfort-food premise behind older flavors, perhaps rightly so, because of its affiliation to the chic "college band" style of its musical counterpart.
"Cherry Garcia," inspired by Grateful Dead bandleader Jerry Garcia, has been around for years, yet still ranked number one on the list of Ben and Jerry's most popular flavors. Created and suggested by a self-proclaimed Deadhead, "Cherry Garcia" combines cherry ice cream with B&J's famous fudge flakes.
Ben and Jerry's continued to associate themselves with tie-dye sporting, granola-eating Vermonters by immortalizing the band Phish -- a laid-back group of groovers from the Green Mountain State, in 1997. "Phish Food," the epitome of chocolatey goodness, hit stores that February, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting environmental work to restore Lake Champlain.
Despite their recently forged corporate ties, Ben and Jerry's continues to be as committed to its community as to its profit. Their mission statement pledges "linked prosperity," or a balance of product, social and economic goals for the company. Ben and Jerry's Homemade, Inc. splits approximately eight-percent of its pre-tax earnings among three different community service projects: the Ben and Jerry's Foundation, employee community action teams in Vermont and corporate grants.
Maybe Ben and Jerry's is a highly commercialized corporation desperately laying claim to its rustic, earth-friendly roots. Yet at least they recognize social and environmental problems and try to contribute to their solutions (in addition to serving some pretty decent ice cream, I might add).
So here's a job for all you couch-potato tree-huggers. Right here, in a small ice cream franchise in Hanover, N.H. you can gorge yourself, satiate your sugary desires and help save the world at the same time.
