It is the co-op’s vision to support and strengthen community connections with our local producers — so here are their stories! In this Meet Your Producer series, we will highlight our neighborhood farmers, ranchers and producers so you can see and hear what they’re all about.
Flint Hills Pints
Karen and Darrin Moege
111 Missouri Ave, Alma, KS 66401
Visit their website
About the Producers
During the pandemic, watching prices rising on everyday staples, Karen found herself looking at the grocery aisles and thinking “I could make that at home.” She and Darrin started experimenting with ice cream recipes and methods they found online, eventually combining several till they had a velvety, rich ice cream. Three years later, they had officially launched Flint Hills Pints. Today they offer 33 flavors and supply 22 grocery locations, K-State concessions, weddings, funerals, county fairs and more with ice cream.
“Seeing people smile once they take that first bite, that’s my favorite part,” said Darrin.
About the Ice Cream
Each batch of Flint Hills Pints ice cream is made with a 5-ingredient base using local Hiland milk, locally-produced eggs (up to 400/day!), and locally-made add-ins whenever possible. The Moeges are proud to say its Kansas ice cream made with Kansas ingredients. They don’t add dyes, colors, or preservatives, and they try not to let anything go to waste. The discarded egg whites are picked up by neighbors for their show cattle, since the protein makes their coats glossy. The egg shells are also picked up by local farmers for compost.
Flint Hills pints has been awarded several grants since its inception. Recently, they’ve purchased a flash freezer and freeze-dryer to expand their offerings to freeze-dried ice cream. They also opened their storefront in May in downtown Alma! In addition to pints and single-servings of their ice cream, they carry Smokehouse Seven seasonings, salts and honey (used in their signature Smokey Bear pints), Mama T. jams, King’s Candy Cotton Candy and pickles, spices, and krauts from Hays. They supply ice cream at the concession stands at K-State football games, and recently, they partnered with Ward-Meade Park in Topeka to supply a signature favorite at their Old Prairie Town shop - Brown Bread Ice Cream, made with grapenuts and molasses (co-op staff says: 10/10)! They also added a gluten-free cookies & cream ice cream after several customer requests.
The Moege’s manage all their own deliveries, from Franklin General Store in Shawnee to Wheat State Mercantile in Pratt. You can request their trailer at events, and they’ll bring the ice cream to you. Find 8 varieties in our freezer aisle!
“I’m always happy when folks are supporting local - and there are other small businesses being supported by us,” said Karen.
