Frozen treats that POP with flavor

Last year, Lisa Lamulle was wondering about her next career move after a car accident left her with a neck injury and pain throughout her upper extremities.

She had to reevaluate how much physical activity she could do, but she knew she didn’t want to sit at a desk job all day.

“The accident made me think about my future and where my passions led,” Lamulle says. “I always wanted to do something in the food industry. I grew up with a long line of family members who own their own businesses. I had never taken that leap, and the accident forced me to make that decision.”

A one-time juicer, smoothie maker and all-around healthy eater, Lamulle conjured up the idea to mix fresh and local ingredients to make frozen treats.

Thus, she began POPculture POPs in early July, a business specializing in made-to-order, organic and seasonal frozen treats.

Making the pops was a natural progression, Lamulle says. An avid farmers market visitor, she wanted to blend minimal ingredients with the produce she saw.

“I had this fresh fruit, and I was wondering how I could turn it into something I could package and sell,” she says. “I keep it as simple as possible. Mostly, I cook down fruit, like cooking a jam, and each pop is three to four ingredients. Sometimes, I’ll throw it in a blender, then I freeze them.”

Among the POPculture flavors are roasted pineapple coconut, strawberry kiwi, plum ginger and peanut butter banana. The latter flavor has the texture of a fudgesicle.

Though the flavors are based on what fruits are in season, the response has been consistent, Lamulle says. “There is never a bad day,” she says. “That’s what I love. The customers’ minds are blown by the flavors, then they’re excited, then they taste it and like it. It’s a happy business.”

Lamulle says the business will expand with a cart in the coming months. POPculture is available for parties and business events and makes delivery orders with a minimum of 30 pops. For more information, click here or e-mail [email protected]. —Matthew Sigur