It's 95 degrees at the Rose-mount Farmers Market and there's a setback for JonnyPops: the freezer is out.
Still, St. Olaf College junior Andrew Sather handles it gracefully, spending the afternoon running between the Community Center and his booth to deliver frozen treats to customers. He's smiling and commenting on how the jogs across the sun-baked parking lot enhance his tan.
JonnyPops, founded by five St. Olaf sophomores last year, is one of many additions to south-metro farmers markets in 2012.
Business has grown so much for the start that several employees turned down internship offers this summer, said Connor Wray.
"This is going to be bigger than we can manage as a part-time job," he said. "We are all now doing this full time this summer." They also plan to hire 10 employees.
For the gourmet pops -- current flavors: "mountainberry" (blueberry/raspberry), strawberry, and coconut pineapple -- they use real cream and get as much of their fruit as possible from Lorences Berry Farm of Northfield.
"The berries that they produce are just incredible," Wray said. "I know it's cliché to say you can taste the difference, but you really can."
The frozen pop concept originated with the company's chief founder's cousin, who died from the effects of drug addiction, Wray said. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Hazelden addiction treatment center.
