Blue Bell voluntarily recalled all products this spring following five cases of listeria in Kansas, but the company will make a gradual return this fall.
It’s been a long, hot summer in the South without our favorite ice cream to cool us down. We sweated through our tank tops, longing for the sweet relief of a scoop of Blue Bell and eagerly awaiting the creamery’s return following a listeria outbreak earlier this year.
Southerners everywhere rejoiced on Monday, Aug. 31, when the first tubs of Blue Bell hit freezers for purchase. But, while several counties in east Texas and central Alabama can now enjoy four Blue Bell flavors (Homemade Vanilla, Dutch Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, and The Great Divide), Baton Rouge could still have a long wait.
A Blue Bell representative confirmed that Baton Rouge is slated for the fourth phase of a five-phase reintroduction process across the creamery’s distribution area. This process, according to the current FAQ section of Blue Bell’s website, has no exact timeline but is expected to take a “few months.”
|
|
|
With Baton Rouge toward the end of the rollout, it could be winter before local shoppers see the long-lost ice cream in stores.
“They haven’t even announced when phase two will happen yet,” the representative says.
For those truly desperate—and we mean truly desperate—to get some Blue Bell in their lives, here are the closest major cities to purchase a pint today, according to the Blue Bell Locator.
Worth the drive? Where to find Blue Bell now:
Houston, Texas
Driving time: 4 hours, 3 minutes
Perks of a visit: With a population of nearly 2.2 million and a booming food and drink scene, there’s always something to do in Houston. This could be your excuse to explore.
|
|
|
Galveston, Texas
Driving time: 4 hours, 39 minutes
Perks of a visit: If you visit soon, it could be your last chance to enjoy the beach before temperatures start dropping.
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Driving time: 5 hours, 4 minutes
Perks of a visit: You’ll inevitably run into some Bama fans, so you can do your trash talking for this year’s football showdown early.
Montgomery, Ala.
Driving time: 5 hours, 17 minutes
Perks of a visit: The capital city of Alabama boasts many artistic and historical spots, like the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum and the Rosa Parks Library and Museum.