Talk about manufacturing in Ohio and the conversation might turn to tires, auto parts and machine tools. But the Buckeye State sports good credentials in agriculture in general, and dairy processing in particular. It ranks first in the production of Swiss cheese, fifth in cottage cheese and eighth in ice cream, according to the state’s Department of Agriculture.
Ohio is blanketed with ice cream makers. The National Agricultural Statistics Service counted 33 plants making regular hard ice cream in the state in 2013. That’s more than Wisconsin (28), Pennsylvania (27) and California (21), three big guns of dairy processing. Native Ohioans have their favorites, including newcomers like Jeni’s Splendid (Columbus) and long-time makers like Pierre’s (based in Cleveland), Graeter’s and Homemade Brand (Cincinnati) and Velvet Ice Cream (Utica).