Something to Snack On

We can all appreciate some B&J, Ben and Jerry’s that is. Recently the Vermont based company released a new flavor to keep up with the changing job of Jimmy Fallon (who formerly had “Late-Night Snack”), but as he has taken on a new role, the ice cream is keeping up “The Tonight Dough”. The new flavor is not messing around either with the description reading “chocolate and caramel ice creams with chocolate chip cookie dough, peanut butter cookie dough and a crunchy chocolate cookie swirl.”

With an addition of with such a fitting puny name is also in line with the company’s values. All the ice cream produced using FairTrade ingredients. This means that all of the ingredient producers are paid fair and market value prices for their good. This means that the sugar, vanilla, or coffee farmers that provide them are being fairly compensated. This is not a required practice by the United States or many of the countries that are providing the materials. For example, the much important cocoa of the new flavor is sourced from the Ivory Coast. The higher prices paid by FairTrade companies allow for the ability for these areas to better the way of life for the people in the area. FairTrade proponents argue that the ability for developing countries to have better lives is more important than increasing revenue for the company.

The company continues to make their ice cream do good by using “Caring Dairy”, which promotes better conditions for dairy farms in all aspects from the cows themselves to the chemicals used on the farm. They do not stop there, the company commits to using cage-free eggs, all non-GMO ingredients, and look to be environmentally responsible in packaging and carbon footprint.

Ben and Jerry’s is an example of a company that makes a profit, but also cares about the world it is doing that in. The founders promote progressive values for their products and business practices. Given “The Tonight Dough”, the company is choosing to give proceeds to SeriousFun Children’s Network. The network supports camps for children with illnesses to have opportunity to grow in confidence and independence.

So as you are looking for a little something to take care of your sweet tooth (and you only gave up candy for Lent) pony up the Flex-Fuel, and don’t let the nutrition facts on the back of that pub’s pint of Ben and Jerry’s stop you. This ice cream is out to change the world and your late night pleasure is someone else’s livelihood or ticket to camp. Grab a spoon; I can’t finish this whole thing myself.

This article appeared in The Hill News on March 2, 2015.