South Carolina gets the scoop: peach ice cream tops the Palmetto State's favorites
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — South Carolina is feeling peachy keen about ice cream, according to new data from Innerbody.
The website used 12 months of Google Trends data to determine the most popular ice cream brands and flavors across the country. Researchers analyzed search interest for nearly 30 major brands and 50 flavors before narrowing the list to the top 19 brands and top 31 flavors. To ensure accuracy, the analysis only included searches in which the brand or flavor was specifically associated with ice cream.
Peach is the top-ranked ice cream flavor across the Palmetto State. South Carolina also ranks No. 21 among the 50 states for interest in ice cream.
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South Carolina is the only state to favor peach ice cream, despite the flavor’s middling ranking on the Search Interest Index (51.86), which is the overall popularity of the flavor when searched. Whether you’re getting it freshly scooped or grabbing it from the frozen food aisle, there’s a good chance you’ve supported the $11.6 billion ice cream industry in the United States.
As for flavors, it’s impossible to ignore the big three: chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. Strawberry ranks No. 1 with a search index of 82.24, and 16 states name it their favorite flavor. Chocolate and vanilla are close behind at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. Combine the two and you get Neapolitan, which ranks No. 6 and is especially popular in Washington and Kansas.
The average American eats about 4 gallons of ice cream each year, but New Jersey residents may consume even more. New Jersey ranks No. 1 for interest in ice cream, earning a perfect search interest index of 100. On the other end of the spectrum is Arkansas, with a search index of just 3.39. It is also the only state to name Walmart’s Great Value as its favorite brand.
From the Carolinas to California, Americans have a wide range of opinions about this frozen treat.
One thing is certain, though: Americans love getting the scoop.
For the full breakdown, click here.