Truck delivers G.O.A.T. ice cream to Flathead Valley
Jun. 28—When Sonya Delmonico discovered that her son was lactose intolerant, she set out on a mission to ensure ice cream would remain in his childhood. The solution involved buying a few goats, setting up a farm, and eventually sharing the love with their community.
Though it was no small feat, the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) Ice Cream Truck has become a staple in the Flathead Valley events. The family farm, Sacred Heart Farms, and their pink and green ice cream truck, affectionately named the 'goatmobile', is fully run and operated by Delmonico, her husband John Delmonico, and her two sons.
"We got our first goat in 2020 and played around with the milk from that goat," Delmonico said. "Then we acquired a few more because we needed to make cheese. And then we started making our own ice cream. That progressed into friends wanting it and saying we should sell it."
But raw milk sales had been illegal for the last 50 years in Montana until Senate Bill 199, also known as the Local Food Choice Act, passed in April of 2021. This allowed the Delmonico family to sell their ice cream directly to consumers.
"When the raw milk act passed, the state of Montana lifted the veil to allow us to sell. But there are lots of restrictions," Delmonico said. "We're the first in Montana to reach the public at this level so we're pushing the boundaries. Typically you don't see a raw milk product in this kind of setup."
The act "allows for the sale and consumption of homemade food and food products to encourage the expansion of agricultural sales by ranches, farms, and home-based producers and the accessibility of homemade food and food products to informed end consumers."
Under the bill's restrictions, the Delmonicos must have their herd tested, their milk cultured twice per year, and own 10 or less lactating goats. But even with the restrictions, Delmonico said she is excited to see where the raw milk act could take them in the future.
"Of course, our farm far exceeds the standards. We're so scrupulous and want to make sure everything we offer is pristine," she said.
There are no preservatives or emulsifiers in the ice cream and all flavors are gluten free except for the chocolate malted crunch. From freshly harvested lavender to strawberries that come from Whitefish's Third Street Market, G.O.A.T.'s commitment to elevating local flavors is clear. In fact, all ingredients are purchased and sourced from the Flathead Valley, minus the vanilla.
"The vanilla that we use comes from a small village in Veracruz, Mexico. Our dear friends work in Mexico part of the year and thankfully bring us back a few batches as they are able," Delmonico said.
Flavors on their menu include minty chip, funky monkey banana, pistachio pudding and chocolate chip cookie dough, among others.
The Delmonicos' farm is constructed with repurposed/recycled materials from locals and is home to Alpine, Nigerian, Kinder, and Lamancha goats. The ice cream is made with a blend from all breed's milk which ensures an evenly dispersed fat content.
"We found out through our culturing that our Nigerians produce 8% butterfat whereas our Alpines produce 2-4%," said Delmonico. "My husband is the creamer and puts the milk through a creaming machine every morning which he does twice to filter it."
To learn more about G.O.A.T. Ice Cream Truck, visit their website sacredheartfarms.us or Facebook page. To contact, email thegoat@sacredheartfarms.us or call 406-291-7943.
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Reporter Summer Zalesky may be reached at szalesky@dailyinterlake.com.
