From a hand-cranked basement operation in West Philadelphia, Rosati Ice has made Italian ice since 1912 and today produces its smooth, naturally flavored frozen treats in Clifton Heights. Founded by Sam Rosati, the company calls itself the original Italian ice maker in the United States and has grown from horse-drawn wagons to a national brand serving schools, scoop shops and retailers. Its current line emphasizes dairy-free, nut-free and gluten-free recipes without artificial dyes, while its school program has made the cups part of cafeteria fundraisers and seasonal menus.
Kosher Certified
certification
Tranzilli's Real Italian Water Ice, IncFounded in 1969 by Italian immigrants Nobile and Olimpia Tranzilli, Tranzilli’s makes Italian water ice daily at its Germantown production facility for retail and wholesale customers. Still owned and operated by the original Italian family, the Philadelphia company preserves its homemade recipe and the bold flavor and texture developed to hold up in the heat for local factory workers. From its beginnings serving Germantown, Tranzilli’s has grown into a national wholesale business while retaining its family tradition.PHILADELPHIA, PA
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
Eric’s Ice Cream FactorySince 1999, Eric’s Ice Cream Factory has been making homemade, handcrafted ice cream in small three-gallon batches at its Northwest Ohio shops and mobile ice cream truck. The Defiance-based company has developed more than 170 rotating flavors, including its own dairy-free options and exclusive topping and flavor lines, giving its cases a distinctly local and inventive character.DEFIANCE, OH
Purity Ice Cream CoFounded by Cornell graduate Leo Guentert in 1936, Purity Ice Cream makes small-batch ice cream in Ithaca, where the locally owned shop remains a Finger Lakes institution. Guentert began with natural ingredients and a drive to improve chocolate ice cream; today, Purity’s more than 30 flavors are scooped at its shop and shipped nationwide, with scratch-made bakery items and food served alongside them.ITHACA, NY