National Peach Ice Cream Day is a holiday that’s observed on July 17th every year. It’s a summer holiday that combines two of the most popular summer foods: peaches and ice cream.

Since this holiday falls in July, it also coincides with National Ice Cream Month. That makes it an excellent time for you to head to your local grocery store and stock up on peach ice cream, or perhaps even take advantage of the readily available summer peaches and try making your own.

The History of Ice Cream

Once again, we were unable to determine who invented this holiday or when it was invented. It seems to be lost to history, so we decided to instead discuss the history of ice cream. Ice cream is a dessert that reportedly dates back to the 2nd century B.C.

The ice cream enjoyed then was not the same as modern ice cream. It was more akin to shaved ice or snow that was flavored with honey or nectar. Even Alexander the Great is said to have enjoyed frozen concoctions of these types.

During the 7th century A.D., a dessert similar to ice cream was also enjoyed in China. It was made from a blend of buffalo milk, flour, and camphor. An ice cream-like dessert was also made by mixing milk and rice together and then freezing it by packing a container of the mixture into the snow.

It’s commonly believed that Marco Polo saw ice cream being made during his trip to China and introduced it to Italy upon his return in the 13th century. Between the 13th and 16th centuries, ice cream gradually evolved, and most historians agree it became the modern version of itself sometime during the 16th century.

The first official account of ice cream’s arrival in North America can be found in a letter written by Maryland Governor William Bladen in 1744. Thirty-three years later, in 1777, the first advertisement for ice cream appeared in the New York Gazette. The rest is history.

Juicy Facts About Peaches

Would you like some easy-to-digest facts about peaches? If so, then please enjoy the following peach-related bits of trivia.

• The U.S. state of Georgia is known as the Peach State.
• Georgia produces over 130 million pounds of peaches annually.
• The only U.S. states that grow more peaches are California and South Carolina.
• National Peach Month is in August.
• Peach trees produce fruit for approximately 12 years.

Observing National Peach Ice Cream Day

National Peach Ice Cream Day can be observed by enjoying this ice cream in some form. You can savor it in a bowl with some whipped cream on top, or in a peach ice cream shake. While you’re enjoying this cool, smooth summer dessert, don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalPeachIceCreamDay on social media to let the world know you’re celebrating this holiday.