Oregon Public Broadcasting

A major East Coast dessert company has moved its production operations to Eugene.

Officials with Ciao Bella Gelato say they shut down production facilities in New Jersey and California over the last few weeks and transferred production to the Willamette Valley.

Head of marketing, Deborah Holt, says the gelato company struck a deal with Eugene-based Oregon Ice Cream, which will pack the gelato in their existing facility.

Holt says they’re moving in part because Oregon offers more of the kind of milk they want.

Deborah Holt: “Moving to Oregon allows us the opportunity to expand our production, meet the quality standards that we have, and also we were really seeking to enhance our all-natural products, and that was with a dairy that’s free of any artificial hormones or steroids, and Oregon is one of the states that offers that as a dairy alternative.”

Officials say the corporate headquarters will remain near New York City, where Ciao Bella began, but a handful of production-related jobs will move to Eugene.

Ciao Bella suggested that Oregon Ice Cream might hire on more people to help with the actual production and packing of the gelato.

Officials at Oregon Ice Cream weren’t immediately available for comment.