Chocolate milks monopoly on the flavored milk market was busted up in the last 100 years by strawberry milk and then in the past 15 years or so, the very welcomed addition of banana milk busted onto the scene and into my heart (even though I haven’t seen NesQuicks version of it in years despite not finding confirmation that the product was actually discontinued). Isn’t the world ready for a full on milk-market flavor overhaul?
Just like world technology had a relatively steady flatline in its rate of increase up until the Industrial Revolution and then BAM – everything spikes in development and advancement, the world of flavored milk is ripe for such an explosion. But to initiate such a boom, we must understand what has stagnated the development thus far.
Comic by Randy Otter
We have the technology. We could even make it pretty reasonably non-chemical laden, natural and healthy in addition to being delicious. The only question is who would actually buy it? Obviously I would. But I aint Jack & Jane GroceryShoper. There’s a reason why most of the ice cream flavors available are variations of either chocolate or vanilla. People aren’t looking to experiment with these things and in order to create a flavored milk market, that societal trend needs to change. Can it?
Evidence suggests yes, as it is not the flavors the public is actually wary of – it’s the purchase for home use that creates the mental block. Mom and pop Ice Cream shops as well as chain creameries don’t have any trouble selling exotic fruity flavors daily. So why is it that I can reasonably expect to be able to purchase a cup of banana, coconut, mango, pistachio or cheesecake ice cream at any nearby Coldstone but not any nearby Kroger?
Storage risk. People are uncomfortable with the exotic in their homes. They don’t mind visiting and sampling it out in the wild but to cart a gallon home with them is viewed as too risky. What if they get tired of it? What if no one else wants to try the flavors? It’s not worth that happening so they play it safe with one of dozens of options under the chocolate and vanilla column. Thankfully, regional companies like Blue Bunny ice cream are pioneering the offbeat-ice-cream market and offering wonderful flavors like bubble gum and cotton candy in take-home pints and gallons. Unfortunately, Blue Bunny is regional and not available in California yet, so I have to gorge on it while visiting Texas.
The willingness to compete with Big Ice Cream shows hope for the milk market though. With some brave new companies pushing forward more flavored milks, the practice can grow and become more common. With a little social engineering to get people used to the idea and showing them how great it can be, we can change the milk world as we know it. And we should.
We owe it to our grandchildren to leave them a world with more flavored milk options.
It’s the racial debate: like why can they call Caucasians white, and African Americans black, but there’s no color for the other races?
Not enough flavors…though that comment was slightly racist. But who cares? I’m black anyhow.
A Banana milk is really starting to sound good right now. Never tried it. Can you believe it? So tell me, where in modern America can I find this rare flavor so that I may try some?
#TeammilkFlavors is that a tag yet?