The year is 1917, and the world is in turmoil. The United States has entered World War I, Russia is experiencing a revolution, and American women are fighting for their right to vote.
Yet, out the hardships, destruction and dashed hopes, a new American tradition arose from the kitchens and ovens of Girl Scouts to soothe the hearts of a hurting nation—the Girl Scout Cookie.
While Girl Scout Cookies today account for millions in annual revenue for the Girl Scouts of the USA, these tasty delights enjoy a long history and modest beginnings. The earliest mention of a cookie sale found to date was that of the Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma, which baked cookies and sold them in its high school cafeteria as a service project in December 1917.
In 1934, Girl Scout Cookies went commercial when Girl Scouts of Greater Philadelphia Council became the first council to sell commercially baked cookies in the city's gas and electric company windows. By 1937, over 125 councils nationwide held cookie sales, with the trefoil-shaped Shortbread as the first official Girl Scout Cookie. Thus began an American tradition that taught girls leadership and valuable life skills such as entrepreneurship, money management and goal setting.
Despite flour, butter and sugar shortages caused by World War II, the Girl Scout Cookie program prevailed, and in 1951, two other Girl Scout Cookies were introduced to the world—in addition to Shortbreads, the public could also purchase cream-filled Sandwiches and Chocolate Mints (now called Thin Mints). By 1954, Girl Scouts had added a chocolate-filled wafer cookie, and some bakeries even offered optional flavors to their respective councils.
The 1960s brought a population explosion thanks to the baby boomers, which in turn led to an explosion in Girl Scout membership, and the public’s craving for Girl Scout Cookies. Sales increased so much that by the 1970s, the number of Girl Scout Cookie bakeries was streamlined to four to ensure lower prices and uniform quality, branding, packaging and distribution. It was in the 1970s that the “modern” Girl Scout Cookie was born, and packaging showcasing the benefits of Girl Scouting was introduced.
The 1980s and 1990s brought the beloved Samoa (Caramel Delight) and peanut butter cookies. By this time, Girl Scout Cookies had truly become a household name with superior brand recognition, perfected recipes and fun, colorful boxes. But most important of all, the Girl Scout Cookie Program became the pre-eminent entrepreneurial program for girls in the nation. In fact, many of today’s successful businesswomen say they got their start selling Girl Scout Cookies!
Today, eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies are available—Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos, Trefoils, sugar-free Chocolate Chip, Lemon Chalet Cremes, and the new, caramel-icious Dulce de Leche! Cookies are just $3.50 a box and can be ordered by calling 1-800-YUM-YUM2 or by visiting www.gscb.org. Girl Scout Cookies are available this year until March 8, 2009. All profits benefit locally-based leadership programs for girls in grades K-12.
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The year is 1917, and the world is in turmoil. The United States has entered World War I, Russia is experiencing a revolution, and American women are fighting for their right to vote.
Yet, out the hardships, destruction and dashed hopes, a new American tradition arose from the kitchens and ovens of Girl Scouts to soothe the hearts of a hurting nation—the Girl Scout Cookie.
While Girl Scout Cookies today account for millions in annual revenue for the Girl Scouts of the USA, these tasty delights enjoy a long history and modest beginnings. The earliest mention of a cookie sale found to date was that of the Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma, which baked cookies and sold them in its high school cafeteria as a service project in December 1917.
In 1934, Girl Scout Cookies went commercial when Girl Scouts of Greater Philadelphia Council became the first council to sell commercially baked cookies in the city's gas and electric company windows. By 1937, over 125 councils nationwide held cookie sales, with the trefoil-shaped Shortbread as the first official Girl Scout Cookie. Thus began an American tradition that taught girls leadership and valuable life skills such as entrepreneurship, money management and goal setting.
Despite flour, butter and sugar shortages caused by World War II, the Girl Scout Cookie program prevailed, and in 1951, two other Girl Scout Cookies were introduced to the world—in addition to Shortbreads, the public could also purchase cream-filled Sandwiches and Chocolate Mints (now called Thin Mints). By 1954, Girl Scouts had added a chocolate-filled wafer cookie, and some bakeries even offered optional flavors to their respective councils.
The 1960s brought a population explosion thanks to the baby boomers, which in turn led to an explosion in Girl Scout membership, and the public’s craving for Girl Scout Cookies. Sales increased so much that by the 1970s, the number of Girl Scout Cookie bakeries was streamlined to four to ensure lower prices and uniform quality, branding, packaging and distribution. It was in the 1970s that the “modern” Girl Scout Cookie was born, and packaging showcasing the benefits of Girl Scouting was introduced.
The 1980s and 1990s brought the beloved Samoa (Caramel Delight) and peanut butter cookies. By this time, Girl Scout Cookies had truly become a household name with superior brand recognition, perfected recipes and fun, colorful boxes. But most important of all, the Girl Scout Cookie Program became the pre-eminent entrepreneurial program for girls in the nation. In fact, many of today’s successful businesswomen say they got their start selling Girl Scout Cookies!
Today, eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies are available—Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos, Trefoils, sugar-free Chocolate Chip, Lemon Chalet Cremes, and the new, caramel-icious Dulce de Leche! Cookies are just $3.50 a box and can be ordered by calling 1-800-YUM-YUM2 or by visiting www.gscb.org. Girl Scout Cookies are available this year until March 8, 2009. All profits benefit locally-based leadership programs for girls in grades K-12.
