More #TitanSummer fun is being uncovered at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh as staff member Brandon Pannier ’05, shares his favorite summer treat—Fox Pops.
Fox Pops is an original, gourmet fruit ice pop business founded more than two years ago by Pannier and his sister Andrea Pannier ’08.
The brother-sister duo first became inspired to start a business when they tasted their first gourmet ice pops on a family vacation. Ever since their trip, the two have made it their mission to recreate that heavenly treat.
The business prides itself as a small-batch operation, using fresh, natural ingredients without artificial additives. The selection of flavors is rotated regularly throughout the season based on availability of local ingredients.
Currently, Fox Pops offers 18 different flavors with classics like strawberry or blueberry-banana to more inventive combinations like raspberry-mint or roasted pear and ginger. Each flavor is titled with a popular culture reference for a bit of extra flair.
Pannier reckons the most popular Fox Pop flavor is pineapple-kiwi-orange, cleverly named “the sticky-finger bandit.” However, his personal favorite is “the weekender,” which is salted mango and coconut.
By day, Pannier is the associate director of advising and recruiting within UWO’s Division of Online and Continuing Education. By night—nearly every night during the busy season—he is an artisanal ice pop chef. The brother and sister operate out of a shared commercial kitchen, the Green Tomato Artisan Market & Kitchen, in Appleton.
May through September are the busiest months for business. During the season, the ice pops stand sells out almost every week. The Panniers attempt to use as many natural and seasonal flavors as possible. Many of the ingredients are sourced from the very farmers markets they participate in.
In addition to farmers markets, Fox Pops is often present at special events and festivals in the greater Fox Valley area. The company also offers private catering.
During the off-season, the team experiments and develops different flavor profiles to create new recipes. Much of their inspiration comes from various forms of mixology: juices, cocktails, smoothies and more.
Pannier is looking forward to the next frontier of pairing with local businesses and delving into wholesaling, but he’s happy keeping things small for now.
Fox Pops makes a weekly appearance at the Oshkosh and Appleton farmers markets, and is also scheduled for upcoming events, including dueling pianos at Simply Country Barn in Freedom, the Furry Flurry with the Neenah Animal Shelter and the August RiverHeath concert in Appleton.
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