Girl Scouts of Western New York has officially announced the beginning of its Girl Scout cookie season.

The season began on Jan 7, and runs until April 2. During these months cookies can be bought from local troops or scouts, or online. The selling booths that can be found outside of stores can be found starting on March 5.

A new cookie has been announced this year as an online exclusive — the Raspberry Rally. Similar to the classic Thin Mint, Raspberry Rally is a raspberry cookie dipped in chocolate. The new cookie has to be ordered online and customers can either have it directly shipped or have the Girl Scouts deliver, though there is a ¢ off deal of the shipping price for an order of nine or more boxes.

Overall prices were raised to $6 this year to keep up with commodities.

Laura Fakharzadeh, production program manager for Girl Scouts of Western New York, said that this season is important for all of the local troops because it is the main source of funding.

“The cookie season funds most or all of the activities in the troops for the year,” Fakharzadeh said. “It allows them to do exciting things like travel or community service or STEM or camp. Anything that the troops want to do during the year is usually funded by cookie sales.”

There are five essential skills that Fakharzadeh said the girls learn in the Girl Scouts, and more specifically during the cookie season. These skills are; goal setting — which allows the girls to gain ambition to reach their goals, money management, people skills — specifically how to do things such as carry out a phone conversation, business ethics, and decision making — what to do with the money earned, etc. All of these skills are fostered by the Girl Scouts to help the girls retain them as they grow up.

Fakharzadeh said these five skills are the most important ones that the Girl Scouts teach, and they are some of the many reasons why people should look to buy cookies during this year’s Girl Scout cookie season.

“First of all, they’re delicious,” Fakharzadeh said. “But, this season also gives girls the opportunity to engage in what is the largest entrepreneurship organization and project in the world. It allows the girls to learn and criticize and carry on these skills to when they are older. Overall it funds the future of these girls and the Girl Scouts.”

To find cookies or a local girl scout, visit gswny.org/en/cookies/find-cookies.html.