Missouri's Economy and Ice Cream
We also believe that this official designation will help promote the state's multi-million dollar dairy and frozen dessert industries. Ice cream production and sales are crucial to the Missouri dairy economy. According to the 2002 Economic Census Industry Series Reports, Missouri is the fifth largest non frozen dairy product manufacturer. The resport also indicates that Missouri ranks number ten in frozen dessert/ice cream production. In 1999, a study conducted by the International Dairy Food Association, indicated St. Louis ranked number four per capita out of all American cities in the consumption ice cream products. By promoting the companies producing ice cream and ice cream cones, we will also be indirectly supporting their vendors and related service providers. Equally, we think this designation would be beneficial to Missouri's tourism through retail sales in tourists' locations such as amusement parks, fairs, malls and other entertainment venues.
Additional Information: Should this bill become law, we are also hoping to lead the way in the establishment of a monument in Forest Park to recognize the birth place of the ice cream cone. We are also hoping to develop an official commemorative state pictorial emblem, which could be displayed at retail establishments serving the official state dessert, the ice cream cone.