Last Monday after I ate dinner dinner in downtown Durham, I had a cherry chocolate Loco Pop. Loco Pops are popsicles with unique flavors that are made in locally in Durham, NC. I did a little research and the story behind the popscilces is pretty interesting.
In 2004, Summer Bicknell, the founder of Loco Pops was working in Nashville and felt ready to do something different. One day she ate a frozen popsicle from Mexico, called a paleta. She did some research, and then moved to Tlazazalca, a town in the southwest Mexico state of Michoacan. Here she did a three-month apprenticeship at a paleteria, learning to combine traditional Mexican flavors to make paletas.
She later moved to Durham, N.C. to start her business just two freezers, a basic kitchen and some whiteboards, and opened Locopops in 2005. In Durham she met Connie Semans who became her business partner. They both shared a desire to run a business that supports the community in a variety of ways. Locopops expanded from its original store Locopops began to be sold in other stores and venues in the area.
Locopops use fresh fruits, locally grown herbs, and locally produced cream. The flavors are unique, and the choices are constantly changing. Some of the flavors include rosemary lemon, orange cardamom, chocolate chile, mango coconut rose, blueberry thyme, raspberry hibiscus, strawberries and cream, cherry bay leaf, and nectarine ginger.
I have tried about three flavors, and my favorite still remains Mexican chocolate, which is a rich chocolate popsicle that has cinnamon and nutmeg in it.
The slogan of Locopops is “ Taste Good, Be Good, Do Good” Locopops works to support community groups, PTA’s, student groups, animal shelters and other non-profits through fundraising activities, donations, and public art space.
I can’t wait to get back to NC – so I can get my next Locopop. This time it will be the Mexican chocolate.
Image Source:
http://www.ilovelocopops.com/
Links:
http://www.ilovelocopops.com/