DURHAM -- For 10 years people in and around Durham have embraced Locopops.
"Every time I come in, there's something different on the board and that means I can try something different," said one customer.
They are actually paletas, traditional Mexican frozen treats.
"We use fruit and real cream and real ingredients. It's not flavored sugar water," said Summer Bicknell, Locopops.
Bicknell decided to make and sell paletas after hearing the story of two women who were doing that in Nashville.
"I decided to quit my job and go to Mexico and follow in their footsteps and learn how to make paletas," said Bicknell.
The reaction from family and friends was predictable.
"That's where the name comes from. They thought I'd lost my mind," said Bicknell.
Once Summer opened Locopops though, it didn't take long to see that the idea wasn't that crazy after all.
"Once we got open and in, within about a month it looked like I could actually make a living at it, which was a great relief," said Bicknell.
In addition to its spot in Durham, Locopops are sold from a food truck at 30 retail locations and at Durham Bulls home games.
All of them are made in the kitchen in the back of the main retail space.
On this day they were whipping up a batch of cookies 'n cream.
"That is the most popular flavor that we carry, between kids and adults," said Bicknell.
Some favorites are always on the menu and the offerings bridge the gap between traditional flavors and paletas made with local ingredients.
"That means that we get to use blueberries and blackberries and strawberries, and we also get to use mango and pineapple and passion fruit," said Bicknell.
Even locally-grown lavender is made into the paletas these days. It's chopped and boiled and infuses a simple syrup.
"And we can use that to flavor a wide variety of things," said Bicknell.
Locopops differ from the paletas made in Mexico in that they are not quite as sweet and they include no artificial colors or flavors.
Both the water-based and the cream-based versions, however, are packed with flavor.
"We make 'em super flavorful so that they taste to you on the first time that you try it, the way that they should," said Bicknell.
Those close to Summer expressed concern for her sanity when she began her journey. That's no longer the prevailing attitude.
"They all say that they were behind me 100 percent, the whole time," said Bicknell.