Newtown Sweet for Ferris' Farm Fresh Ice Cream

For many people, robins are a harbinger of spring. For others it’s the blooming of certain flowers. Still others have a different measure: the opening of Ferris Acres Farm Creamery for the season.

By that standard spring arrived on April 10 at noon when the doors of the Creamery opened.

Patrons from near and far who had waited months to taste their favorite fresh-made ice cream lined up at the ice cream stand on Route 302, 144 Sugar Street, on the 80-acre historic farm, to order cups, cones and sundaes with traditional flavors, daily specials and two new, as yet unnamed offerings.

“She’s been marking the calendar in her room for the last two months,” Vicky Barcello of Easton said of her 10-year old daughter Jenna Rose, who ordered Rt. 302 Chocolate Moo, which patrons have shortened to “Moo.” Vicky got Cow Trax. She said Jenna Rose and her dad, Chris, make the trip to the historic Newtown farm at least once a week for ice cream.

Chris Barcello got a daily special flavor, PBC-squared, with chocolate ice cream, Peanut Butter Cups, and other ingredients. Son Christopher Jr., 3, had basic Chocolate.

“I love this place. The ice cream is great and we love supporting someone local,” said Peter Lubinsky of Newtown, who got his favorite flavor, Raspberry Swirl Chunk. “I’ve been missing it all winter long,” he said. His wife Linda Lubinsky deviated from her standard choice, choosing the not-yet-named vanilla ice cream with pieces of chocolate-covered pretzels and caramel swirls.

“I’m devoted to Ba Da Bing (chocolate ice cream with Bing cherries and chocolate chunks). My kids will be shocked that I didn’t get Ba Da Bing, that I tried a new flavor,” Linda Lubinsky said.

Shirley Ferris said the dairy farm which dates back to 1864 and is the only remaining commercial dairy farm left in Fairfield County, and the Creamery, which opened in 2003, are “truly a family enterprise.” Daughter Colleen Kimball and daughters-in-law Terry and Michelle Ferris work on the business end, Terry as head of the operations.

Her sons Charlie and Brendan and granddaughter Emily Kimball make the ice creams, about 65 rotating flavors, 35 of which are available at any given time. Signature flavors include Cake Batter, Cowabunga Crunch, M.J. Rell, named for former Governor M. Jodi Rell, and Elvis’ Dream, and each year they add more, with patrons asked to come up with the names.

This year patrons are invited to try two new flavors and suggest creative names for them in a contest that will award to the winners “bragging rights and a half gallon of the flavor they named.” One is a smooth dark chocolate.

Jenna Rose Barcello said she entered the contest, suggesting the name The Pretzel Extreme for the one that Linda Lubinsky tried.

The Creamery is open most days from noon to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m.

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