FLORIDA TODAY SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2014 5E

FIVE THINGS

Go ahead. Indulge. Its

National Ice Cream Day
Gobble these fun facts about sweet, chilled concoction
By Christina LaFortune
FLORIDA TODAY 2. Basic vanilla still rules. A
2012 survey by the IICA
revealed that vanilla is Amer-
4. Presidential tastes: Ron-
ald Reagan wasnt our
first president to crave ice

I
scream; you scream! For-
get your diet for a day and
bring on the ice cream.
In a 1984 proclamation,
President Reagan delighted
future generations of Amer-
icans by designating July as
National Ice Cream Month. He
further declared the third
Sunday of the month to be
National Ice Cream Day and
called for all people of the
United States to observe the
day with appropriate cere-
monies and activities.
We have our orders, friends.
Consider it your patriotic duty
to enjoy an ice cream cone
today. In honor of this impor-
tant occasion, here are five
things you might not know
about ice cream.
icas most popular flavor, fol-
lowed by chocolate and cookies
n cream. In truth, though, ice
cream flavors are virtually
limitless. Specialty flavors can
be found in supermarkets as
well as individual ice cream
shops, and many of them fea-
ture seasonal flavors. If you
look hard enough, its even
possible to find grown-up fla-
vors like bourbon butter pecan,
pear with blue cheese, foie
gras or sea urchin.
3. Ice cream evolution: No
one knows who invented
ice cream, although Alexan-
der the Great reportedly en-
joyed a refreshing snack of
snow and ice flavored with
honey and nectar. More than a
millennium later, Marco Polo
cream. After President George
Washingtons death, inventory
records of Mount Vernon re-
corded two pewter ice cream
pots. And President Thomas
Jefferson even had a favorite
recipe for vanilla ice cream,
which you can view at loc.gov/
exhibits/treasures/tri034.html.
5. The cone wars: An Italian
immigrant named Italo
Marchiony is credited with in-
venting the first ice cream cone in
1896 in New York City and was
granted a patent in 1903. Curi-
ously, though, a similar creation
was independently introduced in
1904 at the St. Louis Worlds Fair
by a Syrian immigrant named
Ernest A. Hamwi. The story goes
that he was selling wafflelike
pastries in a booth next to an ice

1. Its big business. Accord-

ing to the International
Ice Cream Association, about 9
percent of the milk produced
by U.S. dairies is used to make
ice cream. That equates to
about 1.53 billion gallons of ice
cream and similar frozen des-
serts, or about 20 quarts of ice
cream per person. I dont know
about you, but Im pretty sure I
havent been consuming my
fair share.
brought back from his travels
a recipe for a frozen treat
similar to modern sherbet.
Historians believe that recipe
eventually evolved into ice
cream in the 16th century.
Cream ice was served to
European royalty, although it
wasnt until much later, when
insulated ice houses were
invented, that ice cream be-
came widely available to the
general public.
cream vendor. Because of ice
creams popularity, the dishes ran
out. Hamwi saved the day by
rolling one of his waffles into a
cone shape, making fairgoers
happy and launching ice cream
cones into popular American
culture.
Sources: idfa.org;
saltandstraw.com; loc.gov
Email Christina LaFortune at clafor-
tune@floridatoday.com, or follow her on GETTY IMAGES/
Twitter @lafortunec. ISTOCKPHOTO

Mangoes
Continued from Page 1E

southeastern and southwestern

coastal areas, as well as the
south end of Lake Okeechobee
and as far north as Merritt
Island.
Floridas mango season lasts
from May through October,
depending on the variety, but
summer is generally thought
of as peak mango season.
Mangoes are a highly de-
sired Florida fruit, and those
who are fortunate to have their
own trees will discuss fruit
yields and taste for hours at a
time. They may even begin to
notice that friends are more
likely to visit or drop by during
mango season. Trees are
prized, and bitter feuds ensue
if a mango bandit is discov-
ered, be it an unscrupulous
neighbor or wildlife.

Mango road trip

One of the best locations to
learn about Florida mangoes is
the Redland area of Miami-
Dade County. It is one of the
most prolific agricultural
areas in Florida, 20 miles
southwest of downtown Miami
near Homestead and for many,
the city escape to the coun-
try.
The Redland is named for
pockets of red clay found in
the soil, but also is known for
its unique tropical and sub-
tropical plants and fruit indus-
try. Mangoes, avocados and
specialty fruits lychees,
jackfruit, sapodilla, mamey
sapote are just a few species
grown in this area.
So, for a full immersion
Florida Mango Tour, try a visit
to four locations all within
driving distance of one anoth-
er: a nursery, a fruit and spice
park, a renowned fruit stand
and, finally, a winery specializ-
ing in tropical fruit wine and
beers. All will help you become
more acquainted with the Flor-
ida mango while learning more
about the wide variety of trop-
ical plants grown in the state.
Youll enjoy eating your way
through this tour.
Tour Stop 1: Pine Island
Nursery.
The first stop is a visit to the
Pine Island Nursery in Miami,
not to be confused with Pine
Island on Floridas west coast,
which is also a well-known
mango growing area. Pine
Island Nursery is a 50-acre
farm southwest of downtown
Miami situated in an upland
pine habitat.
The nursery will give you
an overview of Floridas man-
goes as well as other tropical
fruits, nut and spice trees.
Nursery staff will provide a
varietal tasting and even a
tour. The nursery also features
bins filled with seasonal fruit
for you to purchase. And if you
are interested in taking a plant
home to grow your own man-
goes, this is an ideal nursery to
CHOOSE YOUR MANGO Robert Moehling, holding papayas, is owner of one of South Floridas
most famous fruit stands. Robert is Here specializes in tropical fruits
Depending on where you are in Florida, the best varieties to grow and milk shakes in Homestead. ROBIN DRAPER/AUTHENTICFLORIDA.COM
depend on your personal preference.
Jim Stribling, Florida native and general manager of Pine Island Nurs- than 50 years ago by Robert fruit are just a few of the
ery in Miami-Dade County, farms and specializes in mangoes. Stri- Moehling, when as a first- unique offerings.
bling shares his favorite varietals for those who want to grow or just grader he tried to sell family The winery is at 30205 S.W.
enjoy the tasty fruit: cucumbers from his roadside 217th Ave., Homestead. Call
Glenn Mango: This is a deliciously sweet mango with a mild,
stand after school. When he 305-242-1224 or visit schnebly-
peachy flavor requiring little effort to grow and usually ripening in
failed to attract customers, he winery.com.
placed a sign out the following
June and July.
day that read Robert is Here One last stop
Nam Doc Mai or the Carrie Mango: These are known as the and promptly sold out of his If you havent had enough, you
condominium variety, recommended for individuals who have con- cucumbers. may want to head north to
strained yard space. They can even be planted in large tree pots. As Robert still stands behind Miami to visit the Fairchild
the name Nam Doc Mai implies, it was introduced from Thailand. It is the counter, and in addition to Tropical Botanic Garden. With
sweet, with a melon, peach and tangerine flavor, aromatic and fi- specializing in tropical fruits 83 acres, it is one of Floridas
berless, ripening in June and July. The Carrie Mango is also ideal for (including mangoes) he sells most famous tropical gardens.
smaller yard spaces and requires minimal care. It is extremely sweet unique bottled marinades, This vast selection of tropical
with a silky flesh. sauces, salsas and jams. Youll plants, flowering trees and
definitely want to try the leg- palms is a Florida gardeners
Tebow Mango: Yes, it was named after the famed University of endary fruit milk shakes. Mecca.
Florida football quarterback by a Florida nursery owner. Stribling says The fruit stand is at 19200 Opened in 1938 and named
its the best mango I ever ate, describing it as a champion with S.W. 344th St., Homestead. Call for Dr. David Fairchild, it is
yellow and pink color absent of fiber and ripening in July and August. 305-246-1592 or visit rober- one of the first to introduce the
Valencia Pride Mango: This is another fiberless variety, with tishere.com. mango to Florida. As a result,
exceptional flavor, firm, sweet and succulent, with delightful aromas. Tour Stop 4: Redland the organizations Tropical
Slender in appearance, it also ripens in July and August. Schnebly Winery Fruit Program, which is ded-
For a good look at the different mango varieties, check the Pine To finish off your day with a icated to continuing Fairchilds
Island Nursery website, tropicalfruitnursery.com. little libation, head over to the work and research, now has
local Redland Schnebly Win- one of the largest tropical fruit
ery, not far from Robert Is collections in the world.
Here Fruit Stand, where the This is a garden with year-
buy a tree and get good advice varieties to see. Add to that 75 specialty is tropical wine and round activities ranging from
on growing your own. banana and 70 bamboo varie- beer. the annual July International
The nursery is at 16300 S.W. ties, and you are in for an exot- Peter and Denisse Schnebly Mango Festival to impressive
184 St., Miami. Call 305-233- ic and international botanical began their wine business by visiting art shows.
5501 or visit tropicalfruitnurs- tour. Guests can eat any fruit experimenting with wine pro- The garden is at 10901 Old
ery.com. that has fallen from the tree or duction out of their garage, Cutler Road, Miami. Call 305-
Tour Stop 2: The Fruit and even try the seasonal sam- creating wine from tropical 667-1651 or visit fairchildgar-
Spice Park pling platter at the main cen- fruit instead of grapes. You den.com. Fairchild Garden also
The Fruit and Spice Park is 37 ter. Eat on site at the Mango can enjoy their wine in the has an agricultural station in
acres of a one-of-kind tropical Caf after your tour. impressively appointed tasting Redland. Fairchild Farm is at
botanical garden operated by Fruit and Spice Park is at room with a selection of daily 14885 S.W. 248 St., Homestead.
Miami-Dade County. Visitors 24801 S.W. 187th Ave., Home- wines, or consider the two Call 305-258-0464
can take a guided tram tour or stead. Call 305-247-5727 or visit mango wines (one called Man-
go on their own. More than 500 fruitandspicepark.org. go Dolche). They even have
varieties of fruits, vegetables, Tour Stop 3: Robert is mango beer.
spices, herbs and nuts are Here Fruit Stand The selection of tropical Florida native Robin Draper is a columnist,
author and owner of the award-winning
grown and identified in the Robert is Here is one of Flori- wines and beers is enticing website, AuthenticFlorida.com, a travel and
park. das most beloved farm stands. flavors of guava, lychee, cara- lifestyle blog devoted to the simple and
There are 150 mango tree The business was begun more mbola (starfruit) and passion delightful pleasures for Florida living.