Founded in 2013 by twin sisters Marie and Maria Wilson, DeJaFrut makes small-batch, all-natural Jamaican sorbet from fruit purchased from island farmers. The family-owned Montego Bay business began as the Wilsons’ answer to Jamaica’s lack of a fruit-based frozen dessert and now reaches more than 100 retail outlets, alongside a line of spirit-infused sorbet cocktails. DeJaFrut is dairy-free and made without artificial dyes or preservatives, and carries Made in Jamaica certification.
Island PopsBorn from a Trinidadian couple’s craving for soursop ice cream, Island Pops makes Caribbean-inspired ice cream, ice pops and sorbets by hand in Brooklyn. Khalid Hamid and Shelly Marshall founded the company in 2015 after developing their recipes and winning a local business-plan competition, later opening their Crown Heights flagship in 2018. Using natural ingredients, including fruit sourced mainly from the Caribbean, Island Pops also ships its small-batch frozen desserts nationwide and caters events in the tri-state area.BROOKLYN, NY
Taste The TropicsFamily-owned Taste The Tropics has been making authentic Caribbean ice cream since 1978, growing from a neighborhood parlor into a wholesale producer and distributor serving the Tri-State area. Its recipes use real Caribbean fruit and natural ingredients, preserving the island flavors that first set the Brooklyn-based company apart. The brand’s 32-ounce containers are sold through supermarkets and specialty retailers, with frozen shipping available for customers farther afield.BROOKLYN, NY
Pitango GelatoBorn from founder Noah Dan’s childhood in Trieste, Italy, Pitango Gelato makes authentic Italian gelato and fresh-fruit sorbet, churning each batch on site with organic milk from grass-fed Jersey cows. Founded in 2006, the still-family-owned company has grown to eight locations across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, adding a Fells Point bakery and café in 2015. Its made-from-scratch products contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.BALTIMORE, MD
Caribbean Food DelightsFounded in the Bronx in 1978 by Jamaican immigrants Vincent and Jeanette HoSang, Caribbean Food Delights makes Jamaican-style frozen patties, including its signature beef, chicken and plant-based varieties. The privately owned, second-generation HoSang family company now operates a 103,000-square-foot Tappan facility with approximately 150 employees and capacity for more than 40,000 patties per hour. Its focus on food safety is reflected in USDA supervision, HACCP training and SQF Food Safety + Food Quality certification.TAPPAN, NY