Garway family has got the ice cream market licked (From Hereford Times)

Garway family has got the ice cream market licked

8:00am Thursday 11th June 2009 in Search By Liz Watkins

MANY good things come from the Herefordshire village of Garway – not least its ice cream.

It is made at the Kelsmor Dairy at Yew Tree Farm on the edge of the common, where Susan and Mark Jones keep a herd of 90 Guernsey cows.

Most of the milk is sold in bulk but some is kept back to make delicious ice cream, which can come in any one of a range of 30 varieties.

Last year, the family covered 134 shows and events pushing their products and are booked up through this summer, expecting to sell at least 30,000 scoops of the cold stuff.

“We never have the chance of a family Sunday lunch from Easter until October because we are out selling ice cream,” said Susan.

They have a refrigerated van and a Victorian-style barrow to sell their wares and hope the weather will be in their favour this year.

The Jones family have always kept Guernsey cows. “They are easy to manage, nice to work with, are hardy, have good feet and produce wonderful milk,” said Mark.

It is the rich golden colour of the milk that makes their Kelsmor Gold plain ice cream the favourite of all. “No flavours are added to it and its popularity is a testament to how great the milk really tastes,” said Susan.

The business is a family affair with sons Matthew, 18 and Adam 14, helping to sell the ice cream at shows and other events with Joshua, seven, doing his share of the tasting.

Susan creates the different flavours and she sources local products when she can.

Violet flavour is in this year, Herefordshire cider is a popular choice and lavender, apricot and amaretti are all on the list.

Not every flavour is always available because Susan likes to keep things in season.

Christmas pudding is one to watch for when the festive season comes and Victorian plum ice cream could be a success.

Susan has been venturing to farmers’ markets and, since February, has been introducing Kelsmor Dairy’s own bottled milk as well as milk shakes. “That is in its infancy and we shall see how it goes,” she said.

The family will be at the Three Counties Show next week, then Shobdon Food Fest, the Worcester Feast and Mitcheldean Carnival, as well as dozens of shows and events in the region, promoting their home-made ice cream from Garway.

They started making ice cream in 2004 and say it is demanding work, but do not regret a minute of it.

Mark and Susan are members of the Quality Milk Producers, a cooperative of 400 British Jersey and Guernsey farmers who own the Gold Top brand.

Most of the herds are in Devon and Cornwall and Mark said there were only 56 Guernsey herds left in the country.