Winter Park family peddles healthy treats with Yum Yum Pops

Delicious, frosty treats don’t have to be unhealthy. That’s the message that Yum Yum Pops owner and and Winter Park resident Caroline DeSormoux wants everybody to know.

Yum Yum Pops is coming to a school or public park near you with a classic old school popsicle cart and rainbow umbrella, offering children a healthy alternative to ice cream and cake.

The difference is all in the ingredients, said DeSormoux, who makes popsicles with all natural fruit juice.

“My thought was always, ‘How can I get the schools here to be more heathy?’” she said. “The way I look at the popsicle — this is a portion of fruit that the kids should be eating. If they eat at least one of my popsicles a day, they are having one portion of fruit. It’s very low in sugar, and it’s all about the fruit. I want people to be able to enjoy a treat and feel like its fun and it tastes good, but at the same time it’s healthy.”

Eating right always has been a priority for DeSormoux and her family. She and her husband, David, once owned a business selling organic fruits and vegetables from local farmers to restaurants.

The DeSormouxes worked with those farmers to sell fresh produce to eateries, but the family always made sure to buy a box from themselves at home. DeSormoux always opted for packing lunches for her daughter, Luna, as well, instead of letting her buy it at school.

“It’s very east to stop at McDonalds and get a sandwich or Burger King or Chick-fil-A,” she said. “There’s nothing good in that.”

BIRTH OF A BUSINESS VENTURE

An opportunity to take on a new business venture began in 2014, when DeSormoux’s husband first met the original owner of a popsicle cart called Yum Yum Pops. That purveyor was having health issues and couldn’t operate the cart anymore, so in May 2015, DeSormoux and her family bought the business from the owner and carried on the legacy.

Since then, DeSormoux has started selling popsicles at about 15 local schools, including St. Margaret Mary Catholic School, Maitland Montessori School and Bright Horizons in Baldwin Park and Windermere. She also attends various events and parties, such as the opening of a new production at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, she said.

The Winter Park popsicle maker crafts at least 500 popsicles every week, ranging from flavors such as strawberry lemonade and mango to lemon ginger and chocolate banana sea salt. 

DeSormoux’s daughter is also a big help — simply by eating a popsicle in the park.

“When she’s not right here trying to take over and sell to the people, she actually takes a popsicle and walks around and shows the kids — it’s like marketing,” she said with a laugh. “When you see somebody eating, you’re like, ‘I want that.’”

DeSormoux someday hopes to find a cafe or restaurant that will sell her popsicles from a cooler, a chance to give even more patrons a healthy treat.

“People are getting to know the name,” she said. “Usually, I make a joke saying ‘It’s so yummy, you got to say it twice.’”