Farmers in the Northeast were cutting and selling natural ice from ponds. Ice was seen as a luxury item and consumed by only the wealthy. Towards the end of the 18th Century in the New England states, demand for ice began to increase.
![](https://www.antiqueicetoolmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/3-icefromponds.jpg)
Farmers in the Northeast were cutting and selling natural ice from ponds. Ice was seen as a luxury item and consumed by only the wealthy. Towards the end of the 18th Century in the New England states, demand for ice began to increase.