Benicia mother’s ice pops keep Bay Area cool, healthy

Benicia mother Kimberli Haris poses with her Fairyella Ice Pops creation. The treats are a healthy take on the traditional ice pops. (Photo courtesy of Luke George Photography)

When Kimberli Haris’ mother received a stage four breast cancer diagnosis 10 years ago, she was told the only things she could eat were vegetable and fruit pops. Doctors expected Harris’ mother had three months to live, but she kept on for another three years. Now as a way to honor her mother, Haris has been selling frozen fruit ice pops called Fairyella to several vendors across Benicia and the Bay Area.
The idea for Fairyella came mostly from Haris’ mother but also her son. As he was teething, Haris began looking for frozen treats she could give him. She was unable to find any frozen foods which did not have preservatives, sugars or unhealthy additives. Haris remembered the fruit pops her mother ate and figured make them herself and freeze them. Her son quite enjoyed the frozen pops, and she continued to make them.
Haris would treat the frozen pops as a snack for her children, and other parents began to take notice. Eventually, those parents asked Haris where she had gotten those frozen pops and if she could find some for their children. Haris told them she made those pops herself and would make the kids some too. The kids enjoyed them, and other people did too. This positive reception lead to Fairyella being stocked on the shelves of the Whole Foods Market, and it continued to expand.
“We have just grown in the past year,” Haris said. “This is our fourth year, and we’re in 37 locations, including 7-Eleven here in Benicia and the general liquor store on Fifth and Military East.”
The similar Otter Pops were a source of inspiration for the design of Fairyella Ice Pops. The name came from Haris’ mother, who would tell stories of a tooth fairy named Fairyella. Haris herself keeps the tradition alive with her children as well.
“I’m basically continuing the legacy of my mom because my mom wanted to know who Fairyella was,” Harris said. “So why not name them Fairyella?”
Haris believes Fairyella Ice Pops are a big hit because they are real food and they taste amazing. According to Haris, there are no additives or stabilizers in the treats.
“Basically it’s real food.” she said. “I think people like that they are putting healthy food into their body, and people really like my story on how the juices help my mom. And it’s not on a stick, it’s in a pouch. It’s not like your everyday popsicle on a stick.”
Fairyella Ice Pops come in a variety of flavors, all of them using all-natural ingredients. The watermelon flavor consists of watermelon puree, orange juice and lemon juice. Lavender Lemonade features lemon juice, cane sugar and lavender. Orange consists of orange juice, pear juice and sweet potato juice. Then there’s Green Monster, which contains cucumber, lemon, kale and celery juices.
Recently, Harris has submitted Fairyella to the Sprouts Farmers Market grocery chain and hopes the company will start selling the ice pops in the Northern region. Additionally, Haris says she has been really concentrated on getting Fairyella Ice Pops into schools. Fairyella was just approved through the Benicia Unified School District, and parents can order the pops through there. Haris also hopes for the ice pops to be available at hospitals and retirement homes.
“It’s a healthy food,” she said. “I have seen what it did for my mom during her treatment and going through cancer, and I feel like they would just be an excellent item in the hospitals.”
For more information on Fairyella Ice Pops, go to Facebook.com/Fairyellaicepops.