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WEST PITTSTON — When Ernest Lombardo returned home from World War II in 1945, he wanted to start a business that would last.

More than 70 years later, Lombardo’s enterprise has not only withstood the test of time, it has flourished into a thriving family business spanning three generations.

The Blue Ribbon Farm Dairy has evolved into an iconic landmark on Luzerne County’s west side, attracting ice cream lovers with its variety of flavors and old-fashioned parlor.

Perhaps the biggest key to Blue Ribbon’s success isn’t just the flavor of all the ice cream it serves, but how the sweet stuff is made.

Kathleen Sorick, Lombardo’s granddaughter and the third generation to be involved in the business, said all of the ice cream is made from scratch, and the unique flavors, such as salted caramel candy and chocolate-covered crunch, are developed by her family.

Sorick said she couldn’t divulge the secret family recipe, but she did offer a few details about how the ice cream is made.

“My dad (Ken Sorick) starts by making the mix. Everything starts with the vanilla recipe that my grandfather developed,” she said. “We don’t skimp on ingredients or quality, and that’s something that was instilled by my grandfather.”

The business didn’t originate as an ice cream parlor, however. Lombardo began the operation by picking up and delivering milk that was bottled on area farms. The demand grew, and he eventually shifted to bringing the milk from the farm to his plant and bottling it on-site.

Soon after Lombardo began the bottling process, he expanded by using the leftover cream to make chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream. The milk and ice cream operation lasted until 1992, when the business grew far beyond Lombardo’s expectations.

“It got to be too much,” said Kathleen Sorick, who is the store manager and is in charge of social media for Blue Ribbon. “My grandfather kept making the ice cream and also became a distributor for Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms to handle the milk.”

Today the ice cream parlor offers 65 flavors and has a wholesale business offering a variety of dairy products from several distributors. Blue Ribbon has as many as eight milk trucks on the road daily, delivering dairy products to nine counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The parlor and wholesale business keep the Sorick family busy.

“We have a great group of drivers, and even though it is a demanding schedule for all of us, we’re like a well-oiled machine after 70 years,” Kathleen Sorick said. “If my grandfather were alive today, I’m sure he’d roll with it. He’d probably keep it expanding.”

While the business has grown, it also held onto its roots. The made-from-scratch ice cream is still served in an old-style parlor where people can sit and enjoy their treat. The counter often is filled with customers enjoying ice cream sundaes, including an old-fashioned banana split. Adding to the charm is the fact that all the ice cream and sundaes are still served in glass dishes.

“I love that people still come in here, sit down and have a sundae,” Sorick said.

And Blue Ribbon’s customers are appreciative as well.

Lori Rinehimer, Hollenback Township, said she enjoys her visits to Blue Ribbon because of the parlor’s old-fashioned atmosphere.

“It’s such a neat setting to enjoy ice cream,” she said. “You walk in and it’s just like the way an ice cream parlor was years ago.”

Morgan Salter travels from his home in Nesquehoning to enjoy the variety of ice cream flavors.

“I don’t have a favorite because they always add new flavors that I like to keep trying,” he said. “Whenever we’re in the area, especially in the summer, we make it a point to stop and see the new flavors they’ve come up with.”

From left, Ken, Ann, Kathleen and Kenny Sorick have kept the Blue Ribbon Farm Dairy growing for more than 70 years. Blue Ribbon has been in the family for three generations.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_Blue-Ribbon.jpg.optimal.jpgFrom left, Ken, Ann, Kathleen and Kenny Sorick have kept the Blue Ribbon Farm Dairy growing for more than 70 years. Blue Ribbon has been in the family for three generations.

BLUE RIBBON

FARM DAIRY

Year opened: 1945

Owners: Ken and Ann Sorick and their children, Kathleen and Kenny

Address: 827 Exeter Ave., West Pittston

Phone: 570-655-5579

Website: blueribbondairy.com

Prices: Sundaes $4 to $6, cones $3 to $5, milkshakes $4 to $5, blitzes $5

Notable: Kathleen Sorick said older customers prefer cherry vanilla or butter pecan ice cream, while cookie dough and salted caramel are popular with the younger crowd. Also, one in every three customers still prefers the old-fashioned banana split.

Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TomVenesky