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That place smells disgusting, artificial vats of ice cream. When my husband and I used to go for a walk, we always wanted to stop in, but we never did. How have they gotten away with it for so long?

The County shut that place down last year for a couple weeks for numerous health/sanitation violations. Their ice cream has always been crunchy from freezer burn. I like Azu's gelato, though!

Go to the Farmer's Market tomorrow and see if local boy Chet Hilgers is there with his ice cream. Must be certified organic, I think, if he is selling it there. I hear it is pretty damn tasty.

If the owners of "Ojai Ice-Cream" woke up and realized that they were making an inferior product, and decided to fianlly make real home-made ice cream without the smell of turpentine: I would be the first to write an article toting their service to the health and enjoyment of the community! Until then, it's the Farmer's market for me. However, it would great, to have a real ice cream cone in the heart of town.

Children, tourists, couples, and other plain folk who stroll any downtown arcade on a warm day would naturally pause at an ice cream shop and think "Let's have a cone" without giving a single thought of what it is they might be eating. The force of habit and desire completely overwhelm the possibility of even considering that they might be consuming poison.

This gives the vendor an enormous advantage and little incentive to change. Considering the location of the shop (perfectly placed in this regard), there appear to be precious little alternatives.

I have been following this icecream thread with interest and thank Dvorah for bringing it up.

Next time I'm in the bookstore next door to the icecream shop, I'm gonna ask for a scoop of deluxe organic chocolate soy ice cream. If they say they don't have it, I'm gonna say I heard that someone might be opening up a shop that sells natural icecream. You can be sure if a competitor moves in on their turf that they will rethink their limited junk choices!

I too am surpized that after all this time, with Ben &Jerry's natural type icecreams, soy dream and rice dream type icecreams being so popular and mainstream, downtown Ojai doesn't have this!

they have been getting away with it for a long time - and yes it is unbelievable in these health conscious times, in a place like Ojai, that something as wholesome as ice-cream is sold by ignorant people with bucks, with no concern except bucks as schlock! What to do?

Ben & Jerry's is a chain store. It's not owned by a couple of cool hippies from Vermont anymore, but a big multi-million dollar conglomerate...just what they've been fighting against in Ojai.

See....http://benandjerrys.com/scoop_shops/franchise_info/
Just to open one, you need a minimum of $350K. That's a lot of ice cream.

I'm surprised the Rainbow Bridge doesn't have some sort of gelato bar or something.

Hi Sandy!
Thanks for chiming in.
You are right about Ben & Jerry...I've been following their story in the UTNE Reader and other publications over the years... But was just using them as an example of popular brand of more natural icecream ...I'm hoping all this discussion results in something good!

I clicked on your name and saw it's connected to your Painted Farm web site. Will have a "visit" later today...will visit the Ben&Jerry link above too... Thanks!!!

Whoops! I meant to say "Painted Hand Farm"

Check out "jungle ice cream" at the farmer's market, sold at a little mobile booth and made locally in upper ojai- its amazing, probiotic delicious. it's owned by the lovely ivy, who totes her daughter with her every sunday. she's lovely, and her ice cream's even better. homemade and everything. no ice cream has ever made my stomach feel better.

please check it out. it's excellent. from what i understand, too, the owner of Ojai Ice Cream was considering buying from her- push him to do so.

Enjoy!

Perhaps after the "owners of Ojai I-Scream" read these posts, they'll finally get it!!! Yes, Yes Yes, buy from a local master ice-cream person - and get some wholesome ice-cream in your store! and it's about time!!! If you don't I'll start a petition, maybe even put it on an ojai ballot and bring it up at the next city council meeting. Gosh, maybe my friends and I will even picket in front of the store with all our kids in tow!

Rite-Aid ice cream for me.

the ingredients suck, but it tastes good and it's cheap.
i'm scarfing some butter pecan right now

The beauty about Rite Aid ice-cream is that it doesn't pretend to be anything else, after all, it's sold at a pharmacy & variety store (so you expect chemicals). However, Ojai I-Scream is part of Ojai's reputation and you expect some quality. Besides, Rite Aid's Ice-scream doen't smell like turpentine.

Sometimes I too wish Ojai Ice Cream would make a more natural, premium ice cream, with at least some fresh local seasonal ingredients every now and then. It would hugely increase the business, just to get some local chili peppers and make a chili-ginger ice cream, or local Pixies and blend them with a real vanilla, or local strawberries... could add a dollar a scoop for these and we'd be there.

Up in Oregon, you can go to independent homemade ice cream shops in some of these little towns and get things like a real fresh peach ice cream, or blackberry, in season... Nothing better.

Here in California, the real thing is sadly lacking. I don't know anyone doing real good, natural local ice cream in an old-school ice cream shop anymore. Look at the overpriced bang-up business McConnell's in Santa Barbara is doing. Then go look in the freezer case and see the formula boxes. It may be that the economics just are not there.

Anyway, while I am aware that too many ice cream loving locals shun it for reasons mentioned here, we still go to and enjoy Ojai ice cream, and you should too. Its local, its independent, and its an Ojai icon. Its Ojai kids working there. That aroma, sorry, its called homemade waffle cones, if you don't like it, that's your problem, not the ice cream shop's.

We should appreciate and encourage the success of an independent ice cream shop in our downtown. While encouraging them to perhaps try a couple of super premiums in the shop and see how it goes over.

On another note, the proprietor has been at it awhile. He might be thinking about retiring. Perhaps one of the enterprising people on this thread should make him an offer and buy the shop.

Just don't do it if you are going to blow it. I prefer to keep the existing shop rather than lose one more Ojai icon.

Soy is not healthy unless it has been fermented eg. miso, tempe. Tofu and soy milk are both unfit for human consumption. 90 percent of the world's soy is owned by DuPont and Montesanto - two companies that have disgusting track records when it comes to poisoning the environment. Thus, it should shock no one that they continue to poison the human race thru encouraging the consumption of unfermented soy, turning a profit on human misery once again. At least they are consistent.

To comment #15 -
Although, I can appreciate that you have a different point of view, your assertion that we should “still go to and enjoy Ojai ice cream… Its local, its independent, and its an Ojai icon” is faulty reasoning. That’s like saying, “Just because the ice-scream place is an icon and has been there for a long time, we should continue to send our kids there so they can get sick – because it’s a neighborly kind thing to do”. Are you nuts? That’s a hell of a sacrifice.

It’s not a matter of the ice-cream not being organic or completely fresh – It’s a matter of the ice-cream not being natural at all and loaded with chemicals. I’ll bet you the milk is even loaded with rBST, because it’s cheaper. The ice-cream is BAD FOR YOU! Ask them what they put into It? It’s been documented that artificial flavors and colors are “bad for you” especially kids ie. ADD, ADHD, allergies, and on and on.

Many ice-creams are artificial, we all know that, you just don’t expect it in Ojai. When tourists walk into that store, they assume they are getting home-made natural nourishing ice-cream (it actually says home-made) – however people don’t have a clue that they’re getting an artificial mess. And sorry, but that aroma is not “the waffle cones”. Ben & Jerry’s also make waffle cones, and their store in Ventura does not smell like turpentine, it has a fresh waffle cone aroma.

You suggest that if I don’t like it, I shouldn’t eat it. I don’t, because I’ll get an allergic reaction! But I am concerned about the unsuspecting public – especially the kids.

You think, “We should appreciate and encourage the success of an independent ice cream shop in our downtown” - even when they have obviously cut corners to serve the town and all it’s visitors, an inferior product? (again I’m not necessarily talking about organic fresh peaches and so on – I ‘m talking about a simple fresh milk product with natural fruit and sugars).

And you state that you “prefer to keep the existing shop rather than lose one more Ojai icon”? I don’t get it, I’m lost here. Things change and many times for the better! And it’s better to lose an icon that’s become an i-sore!

I’m afraid that this particular ice-cream store has not done Ojai a “big favor”. They could have kept prices exactly as they are – and still served a decent product – they just chose not to in favor of making an even bigger profit at the expense of health – which in Ojai is an unconscionable offense.

Sorry, but I don’t care if they’ve been here 100 years, the product is inferior and it's definitely time to go. If this shop was anywhere else, I woudn't think twice about it - I'd probably expect it - but here? The community expects better. Dvorah

Ojai lumber is selling wood from areas that have been clear cut, I think this is a much more serious issue. We here in Ojai are contributing to this crime.

Thank you for calling our attention to this. If you are sure of the facts, please write a Letter to the Editor about this and give alternatives.

Everything is connected.

The junky ice cream coming from factory farms and chemical companies contributing to human and animal suffering and disease is as much a travesty as the clear cutting of trees.

"Clean sweep"

I don't necessarily agree with you.
I can live without lumber.
But life without ice cream is unthinkable

(off topic, but hey we're having fun here, right?)

"soy is poison" #16

of the billions and billions (thank you Carl Sagan) of web pages i could refer you to both pro and anti-soy, allow me to lead you to:
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2005nl/april/050400pusoy.htm

please read, consider and get back to us.

I have always considered Dr. McDougall to be a beacon of well-considered research and thought on nutrition.
I don't necessarily agree with everything he says, but I often find myself agreeing with him.

Regarding the "icon thing" #15 - since when did we start worshipping idols? Aren't we done with the golden calf nonsense? The ice-cream is just some pre-packaged mix that was sent over by some pre-packaged distributor and mixed in vats, like McDonalds ice-cream, only M's tastes better. It doesn't take hardly anything to make natural ice-cream, it's easy, I make it all the time for the kids. This ice-cream took no thought, no love, no desire to put out a nourishing product. Just hire some kids to mix A into B and fold in C with no eggs (cause they're natural). I say Adios to the "useless pretentious" idols and icons of Ojai in favor of something useful and beautiful and inviting.

Thank you soy boy!

That link to Dr.McDougall's web site you posted above on the pros and cons of soy is tops!

I will reduce my ration of chocolate vanilla soy icecream to one scoop a week! (Or maybe I'll save up and have all four scoops on the Full Moon)

Ice Cream, think about it folks. Fresh sweet healthy vanilla, or chocolate Chip or strawberry natural unadulterated ice cream on a Sunday afternoon out with the family. I don't think that's too much to ask for in Ojai, do you? and I vote to skip the Soy and go for Coconut milk ice cream - it's actually available - I had some at a health food trade show - yummy and no milk for those with milk allergies.

I think you guys, except for one, missed the third retort to this whole ice cream travesty. WE HAVE LOCAL PEOPLE MAKING AND SELLING GOOD, ORGANIC ICE CREAM. THEY HAVE A SPOT AT FARMERS MARKET ON SUNDAY MORININGS. Check them out.

#25 Please don't be so righteous about your "thread” preferences, you’re not the only one that gets it!

You don’t have a clue how many people in all shapes and sizes I spoke to before I decided to write this particular article. I wouldn’t have wasted my time if I didn’t believe this was important to the health welfare and happiness of this community in some way.

It’s nice that we have organic ice cream every Sunday – but who wants to get up in the morning with the family and schlep out to the Farmers Market for an ice cream cone? If you live alone I guess it’s a perfect plan for Sunday brunch.

We do restaurant and food reviews all the time, how else is the public going to know what’s good or not. And Ice cream, desert especially, represents sweetness in life, a joyful “spontaneous” day out with the kids, sweetheart or family. The point is we already have an ice cream parlor, it just doesn’t serve very good or healthy ice cream. Maybe bringing some attention to this issue will change that fact in some way. Maybe “jungle ice cream” can either supply Ojai Ice Cream and Fudge, or maybe they can buy it. There are alternatives here, and it is possible to have a local, daily, healthy, (organic if you want), ice cream parlor instead of the artificial happy-candyland you have now.

Thank you Dvorah, well said!

McConnell's in Santa Barbara - the best. I'd rather buy a pint from STARR and take it home. Gotta say, I dig 31 Flavors, despite ugly chain links. We drive down there and bypass the one right here in town.

31 flavors is delicious - but it's also completely artificial and it's all the way in Oak View. Trader Joe's has Rainbow ice cream (fresh ingredience) and soy treats and other tasty concoctions that are exceptional and they're reasonable.

Dvorah...maybe you could buy some at Farmers Market and take it home???!!! Lighten up. Jeez.

Dvorah asked why doesn't someone in town make a good, possibly organic, ice cream in this town. Someone pointed out that there IS such a thing being made right under our noses and that was not good enough for Dvorah. Dvorah is one of those people who obviously does not listen to the other person she(he?) is having a conversation with as she (he?) is too busy thinking she (he?) is going to say next. One of those do-not-confuse-me-with-the-facts kind of people. As Leader Lisa would say, we just need to chill for awhile. NO pun intended. This is just ice cream we are tossing around here.

Anonymous! read # 26 - that was for you, seems you missed it. I heard you, I also heard many, many others and I speak for them.

IN case it wasn’t clear I posted #32 – and by the way, I'm always surprised by how righteous Anonymous people are. You have missed the whole point of this entire discussion. I'm often dismayed by how overrated communication is - everyone hears only what they want to; and of course from my perspective - you're guilty of exactly what you're accusing me of - which is only hearing your own broken record of "they already sell organic ice cream every Sunday" and "jeez it's only ice-cream".

So read #26 - and if you still feel the same way (which of course you will) - realize that many people (who don't bother to post anything) feel much differently than you.

Dvorah is guilty of just what Dvorah is so amped up about...hearing only what Dvorah wants to hear. The Great Communicator Dvorah is not.

#34 I have followed many of these threads and I'm tired of all the Internet Trolls that take over these threads and they are always anonymous, stupid, nasty and maligning-- never kind or helpful with useful suggestions.

From wikipedia:
An Internet troll, or simply troll in Internet slang, is someone who posts controversial and usually irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, with the intention of baiting other users into an emotional response[1] or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

I just read the last two comments. I’ve never heard the term “internet troll” before, but I like it. I can understand that some people don't want their names out there and tend to be more private then others when it comes to voicing their opinions, but it seems that whenever someone wants to be their "secretly" miserable rude self, they go anonymous, because they don't want to expose their "malicious side" to people who otherwise might think they're fair and kind especially in open-minded spiritually progressive Ojai.

Now I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being disagreeable or even rude as long as you stand behind your beliefs and statements with your name. It’s just the cowards and bullies - that point and jab at people (not issues) then run back to their anonymous computers as they intellectually masturbate to their brilliant anonymous coo - that pisses me off.

p.s. For all those that read “This is Why Little Old Lady’s Despise the Police (and I don’t mean the Band)", the case was dismissed and justice prevailed! Now I truly do love the Police (and I do mean the Band!) and it was in fact the Highway Patrol and he did in fact have a sweet face and he did call me M'am