Sen. Collins to Serve Gifford’s Ice Cream at First Bipartisan Lunch of New Congress

Senator Susan Collins to serve first bipartisan lunch of the new Congress

The Maine Senator will serve up Maine lobster, potatoes, and Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream

SKOWHEGAN, MAINE — February 3, 2015 — Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream, award-winning ice cream from a small town in Maine, announced today that United States Senator Susan Collins plans to serve its Maine Wild Blueberry and French Vanilla Ice Cream at the first bipartisan lunch of the newly elected Congress, to be held Wednesday, Feb. 4, in Washington, DC.

Each week, Republican Senators haven taken turns hosting a GOP luncheon and they typically provide samples of their state’s best food. This week, both the GOP and Democratic leadership decided to make the luncheon bi-partisan and tomorrow’s luncheon, hosted by Maine Senator Susan Collins, will be the first bipartisan lunch of the newly elected Congress.

“I’m always proud to show my colleagues what it’s like to be from Maine,” said Senator Collins. “We Mainers take such pride in our “Made in Maine” products, and Gifford’s is a great example of a successful, family-owned and operated, company.”

The luncheon will feature Maine lobster salad with lobster from Topsham’s Hancock Gourmet Lobster, potato chips made from real Maine potatoes grown by LaJoie Family Growers in Van Buren, products from Stonewall Kitchen in York, and two flavors of Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream – Maine Wild Blueberry and French Vanilla – which is slow-churned to perfection at the company’s ice cream factory in Skowhegan.

“We were thrilled that Senator Collins thought of Gifford’s when planning this friendly bipartisan luncheon,” said Gifford’s General Manager Lindsay Gifford-Skilling.“Last summer in Washington, D.C., we learned first-hand that Senator Collins loves our Maine Wild Blueberry ice cream – a flavor that includes some of Maine’s best ingredients like wild blueberries and dairy from local farms. While she’s wrangling support for legislation, we hope she can gain support for Maine’s best foods as well.”

Last summer Gifford’s hosted a non-partisan ice cream social for Senator Collins and Senator Angus King, their staffs and interns in support of the company’s Good Times Ice Cream Truck tour, which blanketed Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. During the eight-week tour, the Gifford’s family crisscrossed the region handing out free ice cream samples and sharing stories about growing up in a fifth generation ice cream family in Maine. The tour supported the company’s expansion into the greater DC area; and consumers can now find Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream in Whole Foods Market, Balducci’s, Wawa and other fine grocery stores in the greater DC area.

About Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream

Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream, world-class ice cream from a small town in Maine, is a fifth-generation, family-owned company that sources its fresh milk and cream exclusively from independent family farms, and uses antique Cherry Burrell freezers and a state-of-the-art freezing system to make the most delicious, creamiest ice cream possible. The company has earned numerous international and national “First Place” and “World’s Best” awards for its premium ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet. Gifford’s sells its ice cream from Maine to Maryland and in select states as far west as Illinois. In Maine, Gifford’s has five famous ice cream stands. For more information visit www.giffordsicecream.com. Follow Gifford’s Ice Cream on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.