“Although growing our own ingredients and keeping our operations environmentally friendly can increase short-term production costs, we believe it is the right thing to do and that sustainability is the best way to ensure the long-term success of our business” – Barry Bettinger, Vice President of Snoqualmie Gourmet

Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream was the first business to receive official approval from the Snohomish County Sustainable Development Task Force for our environmentally-friendly operation. Snoqualmie Gourmet ice cream is defined by a dedication to goodness- inside the carton and out. To deliver the best in every product is our commitment and we will never cut corners to arrive at that goal, from the plant to the cafe and straight to your spoon.

When the demand for our crafted, 700- plus flavors of ice cream grew, we wanted to put the same thought into our production plant that goes into each pint of our product. We use lower-temperature pasteurization, energy-efficient lighting, refrigeration and heat recovery systems resulting in requiring up to 75% less energy than standard methods. This year, we also went to great measures to install solar panel siding on our plant, bringing sustainability at Snoqualmie Gourmet to a new energy efficient level.

Outside the plant, the Snoqualmie Gourmet property is landscaped for ethical production. The driveway is constructed with layers of porous concrete and crushed stone in order to completely eliminate water run – off. Protecting the original trees on the site helps to block noise pollution and provides multiple meandering gardens and walking trails for our guests to enjoy. A new garden, constructed with amended soils and the naturally infiltrated storm run off water supplies ingredients for ice cream flavors: lavender, rosemary, sage, rhubarb, blueberry bushes, sour cherry trees, as well as the annual herbs which grow on the property.

Our Bioswale

Our bioswale was constructed by horticulture students from Edmonds Community College. Bioswales or rain gardens are landscape elements designed to remove silt and pollution from surface water runoff. They are sloped drainage courses filled with vegetation, compost and rocks designed to slow and hold water runoff so it filters into the soil to recharge ground water, protecting streams from the destructive force of excessive runoff during storms.

Ten students from Instructor Jeanie Taylor’s Edmonds Community College Restoration Horticulture class participated in the design and construction of the bioswale. Zsofia Pasztor, chair of the Sustainable Development Task Force of Snohomish County, mentored the students through the design and construction process.

Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream funded all our-of-pocket costs for the project as part of their commitment to environmental stewardship. Bobby Wolford Trucking donated their time, Cedar Grove Composting donated compost, Total Rental donated equipment, Firetrail Wholesale Nursery donated plants and Zsofia and Zsolt Pasztor donated landscaping rocks, equipment and their time and labor.

Our Commitment To Community Through Fare Start

Snoqualmie Gourmet sources our Ginger Snap Cookies from FareStart. FareStart provides a comprehensive training program empowering homeless and disadvantaged men, women, and families to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training and employment in the food service industry.

To find out more about FareStart, please visit their site – http://www.farestart.org/index.html.