Hiland Dairy and Hammons Black Walnuts Team Up to Introduce Ozark Harvest Crunch Ice Cream
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SPRINGFIELD, MO (September 17, 2025) — Hiland Dairy is celebrating fall flavors and Missouri heritage with the launch of its newest limited-edition ice cream: Ozark Harvest Crunch. Available in stores beginning October 1, this flavor blends Hiland’s creamy vanilla ice cream with caramel swirls and candied Hammons Black Walnuts, offering a sweet and crunchy side of a nostalgic classic.
Unlike most nuts used in ice cream, black walnuts aren’t farmed; they’re foraged. Each fall, families across Missouri and surrounding states gather black walnuts from fields, yards, and forests, then bring them to Hammons’ local buying stations. Hammons Products Company, based in Stockton, Missouri, has processed these wild-harvested nuts for nearly 80 years, turning a community tradition into a bold, distinctive flavor enjoyed nationwide.
“Black walnut ice cream evokes memories passed down through generations, and we’re excited to offer a modern twist on this nostalgic favorite,” said Curtis Hampsten, Hiland Dairy’s Ice Cream General Sales Manager. “Partnering with Hammons allows us to highlight the bold, distinctive flavor of locally harvested black walnuts while celebrating the communities that help bring this tradition to life.”
“We are thrilled to see Hiland Dairy showcasing the unique flavor of Hammons Black Walnuts in their new Ozark Harvest Crunch ice cream,” said Jacob Basecke, Executive Vice President at Hammons Products Company. “Every fall, thousands of local harvesters gather black walnuts by hand, and this collaboration honors that heritage while giving consumers a fresh and indulgent way to enjoy this one-of-a-kind flavor.”
To launch Ozark Harvest Crunch, Hiland and Hammons will provide free samples of the new ice cream at the Black Walnut Festival in Stockton, MO held on September 25–27.
Ozark Harvest Crunch will be available for a limited time at grocery stores across Hiland’s markets beginning October 1. Consumers are encouraged to grab a carton while supplies last and savor the taste of fall in the Ozarks.
Media Contact:
Kathy Broniecki, APR
kathyb@envoyinc.com
402-558-0637, ext. 105
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About Hiland Dairy Foods
A leading farmer-owned dairy foods company, Hiland Dairy is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. Their widely loved products include milk, dips, cottage cheese, flavored milk, sour cream, yogurt, ice cream, butter, cheese, and eggnog. In addition, Hiland Dairy has expanded beyond dairy and produces and distributes various other beverages, such as Red Diamond Tea, lemonade, and fresh juices. Hiland employs 4,000 throughout Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Hiland's milk comes from our farmers-owners just miles from their processing plants, where our milk goes from the farm to the shelves within 48 hours. Learn more at www.hilanddairy.com/company/media-center/
About Hammons Black Walnuts
Hammons Products Company, based in Stockton, Missouri, is the world’s leading processor and marketer of American Black Walnuts. A fourth-generation family business, Hammons has been harvesting and processing wild Black Walnuts from local foragers across the Ozarks region for more almost 80 years. Known for their bold, robust flavor and unmatched nutritional benefits, Black Walnuts are used in baking, cooking, snacking, and specialty products. Hammons is proud to support local communities, promote sustainable wild harvest practices, and share the unique taste of America’s native nut with customers nationwide.
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