Blackwell's Organic Gelato and Sorbetto

OK, one more non-dairy frozen dessert item.

Marcia and Tom Blackwell run Blackwell's Organic LLC, maker of "soy gelato and fruit sorbetto, which are organic, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free desserts. The products are sold at organic and specialty food stores," according to an article in the Asbury Post Press, by David P. Willis.

Tom has been making dairy-free gelato for his own recipe since 2003, using trial and error.

"When we decided to start the business, we had a lot of people sitting around this dining room table, saying, "Taste this chocolate, taste that chocolate, taste that strawberry, taste this strawberry, tell me which one you like better,' " [Marcia] said.

Their products are now in about 50 organic and specialty food stores throughout the Northeast., and are just beginning to appear in supermarkets.

We decided to create a product that would be as clean as possible," Blackwell said. "Everything on our label, you recognize, you know what it is. Chances are you have it in your refrigerator or your freezer. If you don't, you can certainly get it."

Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream, which is traditionally made with milk. Blackwell uses organic soy instead of milk. Sorbetto, which is frozen fruit, water and sugar, is the Italian word for sorbet.

Next month, Blackwell's Organic will be presented with the Emerging Business Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners' Central New Jersey chapter.