After a listeria outbreak at Blue Bell Creameries production facilities forced a national recall, the company said Monday it will begin distributing ice cream to select markets on Aug. 31.

“Over the past several months we have been working to make our facilities even better, and to ensure that everything we produce is safe, wholesome and of the highest quality for you to enjoy,” said Ricky Dickson, vice president of sales and marketing for Blue Bell.

Production is currently limited to its Sylacauga, Ala. plant so the company says it will re-enter parts of 15 states in five phases. The first phase includes Brenham, Houston and Austin, Texas, areas, as well as parts of Alabama where the product is being made.

The Alabama Department of Public Health said the company could resume production at its Sylacauga, AL plant earlier this month, though there is no word on when production will resume at the company’s other plants in Texas and Oklahoma.

 Texas-based Blue Bell issued a nationwide recall and stopped production at all its plants earlier this year after some of its ice cream products were linked to an outbreak of Listeriosis. Since the recall was initiated, Blue Bell has collected approximately 8 million gallons of ice cream and ice cream products. The voluntary recall included all Blue Bell ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen shakes. Blue Bell distributed the products to approximately 23 states in the US, including many in the South and Midwest.