Friday, March 10 was National Farmers Day, celebrating the spicy, savory delights of ranch dressing. It was highlighted by an announcement about one of the biggest names associated with ranch, Hidden Valley. Brooklyn ice machine Van Leeuwen announced it had partnered with the company to make Hidden Valley Ranch Ice Cream.
At Van Leeuwen press releaseVan Leeuwen Ice Cream co-founder and CEO Ben Van Leeuwen said, “We are so excited to introduce this new lineup of flavors and unveil what may be our most surprising ice cream to date: Hidden Valley Ranch.”
“We have entered into a number of creative collaborations,” continued Van Leeuwen, “and can’t wait for Walmart customers to try this new and exciting flavor along with our other spring specials.”
In the same release, Rachel Garrison, associate director of Hidden Valley Ranch, said in part, “We know Hidden Valley Ranch goes with just about anything—pizza, carrots, chips—but ice cream is a first for us.”
The combination of ranch flavor and ice cream is a first for many, so the good news is that in addition to the Hidden Valley ice cream heading to Walmarts across the country, there will be other Van Leeuwen-made choices with perhaps more conventional flavor profiles:
- Sweet Maple Cornbread
- Blood orange chocolate chip
- carrotcake
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Honey Graham Cracker
- Limoncello cake
While some may find the new combo fun and interesting, social media comments indicate others were in a state of cognitive dissonance.
They promised us jet packs and cloud cities and instead we got Ranch flavored ice cream. https://t.co/0DSllFZYGu
— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) March 10, 2023
Each day we stray further from God’s light. https://t.co/c6QAggyTbW
— Brian P. Hickey (@BrianPHickey) March 10, 2023
don’t drop by, don’t pick up $200, go straight to The Hague https://t.co/Irdzv4rP4V
— Peter Twinklage (@PeterTwinklage) March 10, 2023
For the brave consumer willing to suspend judgment and see what all the fuss is about, Hidden Valley Ranch Ice Cream and Van Leeuwen’s six other spring flavors will be available March 20 for $5 each at 3,500 Walmart . Hidden Valley, in particular, will only be sold between March 20 and May 28.
