©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jill Nagy
A blue ice cream called Cookie Monster is the favorite of customers at the new ice cream parlor and farm store at King Brothers Dairy at 311 King Road in Schuylerville, according to co-owner Jeff King.
The new shop opened in May, although a formal grand opening remains “a moving target,” delayed by bad weather in May and June, activities at the Saratoga County Fair, and the obligations of operating a large dairy farm.
The new, 3,000-square-foot building replaces a much smaller market King Brothers operated at the farm. It offers 34 ice cream flavors, ranging from plain vanilla, chocolate and strawberry to such exotica as coconut cashew crunch, bacon buzz and coffee break (coffee ice cream, fudge swirl, and brownie pieces).
They worked on the recipes for almost two years, King said.
In addition to ice cream, the store sells milk and beef from the King Brothers farm and products from other local producers, including cheese, yogurt, baked goods, maple products, chicken, and pasta.
There is seating for 40 people.
The addition of the store has more than doubled the workforce at King Brothers. In addition to some 20 full-time farm workers, another 25 people are engaged producing and selling the products at the store. In a tight labor market, King said that they have not had trouble finding staff.
“A lot of people have worked for us a very long time. We are most fortunate,” he said.
Since the new store is located right at the farm, it also offers an opportunity for customers to learn a little about the farm, King said. From the ice cream parlor, customers can look into the production facility where the ice cream is made. More formal tours of the farm may be added later.
The farm covers some 2,500 acres. They milk 900 cows and grow corn, alfalfa, and grass to feed them. It has been operated by the King family for four generations.
During the county fair season, Jeff King, his brother, and their children were busy showing animals at the Saratoga County Fair.
The retail store and ice cream parlor will be open year round. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays.
More information is available at www.kingbrothersdiary.com or by calling 518 695-6455.