“Some of my peers sold less, but as a whole, it seemed to be about the same.” said Taylor, a high school sophomore from Saddle River who peddled more than 50 boxes to friends and family members. Cookie sales for her entire troop outnumbered last fall's nut and magazine sales.
Maxine
North Jersey’s Girl Scout cookies are manufactured by Little Brownie Bakers, which is based in Kentucky. The company is one of two official Girl Scout cookie providers for the entire country. The other is ABC Bakers of Virginia, which is a sister company of Interbake Foods LLC and provided North Jersey scouts with cookies until last year.
Because of this year’s baker switch, many of the cookies’ names changed.
Scouts sold eight varieties: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos, Trefoils, Thank U Berry Munch, Dulce de Leche, and Lemon Chalet Crèmes. They cost $4 per box.
“Thin Mints tend to always be the top seller,” Taylor said.
According to the Girl Scout cookies website, “[Thin Mints are] the most enduring and universally familiar Girl Scout cookie.” Many customers enjoy them because they are very tasty frozen.
Still, the scouts offered something for every sweet tooth. Thank U Berry Munch, a new variety for 2010, is made with cranberries and white fudge chips. For Peanut Butter lovers, there were Do-Si-Dos and Tagalongs. Caramel is a primary ingredient in Samoas, which are also made with coconut.
Cookies were sold by all levels of Girl Scouts, from kindergarten age Daisies to high school level Cadettes and Seniors. While parents were allowed to assist their daughters, the girls were encouraged to set their own goals and close the sales because the program aims to teach business leadership skills. The Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey website describes it as “the nation’s premier entrepreneurial program for girls.”
This year, as in times past, security measures were taken to ensure the girls’ safety as they sold cookies. Scouts were only permitted to solicit homes of people they were acquainted with.
Every year, the cookie selling program has a prize program for recognizing the girls’ efforts. According to how many boxes of cookies they sold, they will receive different prizes. This year, the recognition program was panda themed. The girls chose anything from a theme patch to a wrist wallet, stuffed panda animal, tie dye bandana, tie-dye pillow or tie-dye tote bag. Those who sold over one thousand packages could even receive a gift card to Best Buy electronics stores.
“I think there is strong support for Girl Scout cookies in our community," Taylor said. "We find that people look forward to Girl Scout cookies and enjoy supporting the organization.”
If you missed out, or want to buy more, call one of the North Jersey service centers to find a Girl Scout cookie outlet near you. For information, click here: GIRL SCOUT COOKIES
Maxine Frendel, a spunky teen-scene writer from Mahwah, is the latest addition to the CLIFFVIEW PILOT staff. On any given winter weekend, you can find tearing up the ski slopes of Vermont – specifically, competing in freestyle mogul skiing, which she has been doing since she was 2. She adores her two Presa Canarios, Cloie and Porkey, and believes: “You have one life to live. Why not love living it?”
