Born 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.
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
DeJaFrut All Natural SorbetFounded 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.BROOKLYN, NY
Jane's Ice CreamSince 1985, Jane’s Ice Cream has made small-batch, handcrafted ice cream and sorbet in the Hudson Valley, building on recipes cherished by founders Amy Keller and Bob Guidubaldi. This boutique family business uses hormone-free milk from New York State cows and natural local ingredients, with an unusually broad selection that includes vegan versions of familiar favorites. Dino Ritchie now carries the original owners’ legacy forward while expanding the brand.KINGSTON, NY
The CharmeryBaltimore natives David and Laura Alima turned more than a decade of dreaming and worldwide ice-cream research into The Charmery, a locally rooted shop built around happiness through ice cream. Its handcrafted flavors draw on Maryland agriculture and maker culture, while its Friday Flavor Drop gives the team room to experiment with ideas inspired by community collaborators. The Charmery also brings its scoop-centered celebrations to workplaces and gatherings across the Baltimore-Washington region.BALTIMORE, MD