The idea for Popcycle started one cozy winter night when we and our partners were all hanging out around a fire. We both live across the street from the Leelanau Conservancy Palmer Woods Forest Preserve and we all love biking. Wouldn't it be fun, one of us said, to have a little ice pop stand at the end of one of our driveways so folks could bike and then grab a frozen treat? 

"You could call it Pop...Cycle!" Gina's partner said. 

And how could we leave a pun like that behind.

It turns out, Cottage Law (bake stands and the like) only covers foods that are shelf-stable at ambient temperature. (Could we offer driveway ice pops in January, we wonder??) But we were so excited about the idea and about the new Lively NeighborFood Market opening up close to home that we decided to start a legit small ice pop business.

Jim Lively graciously accepted us as market kitchen clients. We launched the same summer as the market with a little purple freezer of Rhubarb Cream and Blueberry Pie pops.

Since then, we've grown. You can now find our ice pops at nearly all the places you're likely to find yourself enjoying the summer: Glen Arbor Farmer’s Market, Lakeview Hill Farm and Market, 9 Bean Rows, Farm Club (check out the full list here!).

This summer, we're excited to begin a new partnership with Grocer's Daughter Gelato and Chocolate in Empire. We'll now be making all our pops in their kitchen. But most excitingly, we'll be launching a whole new line of flavors that pair locally grown fruit with Grocer's Daughter chocolate. Who knew ice pops could get even better?!

We love all of our delicious flavors (every time we make a new flavor, one of us says, "This is my new favorite!"). And we love building a business in a community that's collaborative and abundantly generous. Our pops are little joys-on-a-stick that are a small part of the beautiful ecosystem of Leelanau County. If the fruit grows here, we buy it locally. We try to work with small family farms that practice sustainable growing practices. 

An ice pop is such an in-the-moment delight. You have to be present. You have to eat it before it melts! We are so honored to be part of moments of summer joy on this beautiful peninsula we call home. 

With gratitude and glee,

Brianne & Gina