NEW BEDFORD — For the second summer at Fort Taber Park, Sorbae Frozen Treats returns, offering healthy homemade popsicle options to enjoy while having fun in the sun.

"I've always been an ice cream fanatic," said Monica Ferracioli, owner of the frozen treat stand. "But I noticed that I was starting to become sensitive to dairy, even though I kind of didn't want to admit it."

The idea started in 2019, when Ferracioli started experimenting with vegan gelato with a coconut milk base to find healthy dessert options that were dairy-free. The concept soon translated into a popsicle recipe because it was easier to make as single pieces and package for wholesale.

In 2021, she launched the dessert business.

"It has been exciting to expand on healthy conscious comfort foods locally," Ferracioli said, adding that it makes her feel happy to provide that kind of novel experience in New Bedford.

The frozen treat booth is open inside the building with the park's public bathrooms, across from the Fort Taber Military Museum.

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The booth will be open on weekends only until the end of June, then open seven days a week until Labor Day weekend.

What's on the menu?

The popsicles are influenced by Ferracioli's Brazilian heritage. "I love surprising people with new flavors," she said, adding that she can make about 100 per batch.

The Açai popsicle is a frozen version of a smoothie bowl — sweetened with strawberries, bananas and agave and topped with cacao nibs, coconut flakes and peanut butter.

The Coconut Lovers is a frozen mix of sweetened coconut milk and coconut flakes, with your choice of toppings — and there are several to choose from.

Guests can create a frozen Almond Joy by adding dark hot fudge and almonds.

There's also a passion fruit, orange guava popsicle as well as a "fudge-sicle,"with Dutch chocolate, coconut milk and a hint of vanilla sweetened with maple syrup.

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Ferracioli said she also likes the sweet corn popsicle that is a blend of golden corn with sweetened condensed milk, which makes the traditional flavor known as Milho Verde.

Aside from the popsicles, there is ice cream (from a vendor) featuring flavors such as a maple walnut frozen yogurt, s'mores, and cookies 'n' cream.

There is also a moonstone vanilla made with organic cane sugar and bourbon. "That's the one I really, really liked," Ferracioli added. "I mean, if you're gonna do vanilla ice cream, it's got to be a really good vanilla."

The menu also has Vietnamese iced coffee and affogato, which is any flavor ice cream topped with espresso.

How it all started

"I've always had that entrepreneurial kind of bug," Ferracioli said. "I made a career basically out of customer and public service. So I've always loved helping people."

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She said she felt the need to create a business in New Bedford that provides people some type of fun and included a healthy option comfort food, and a place to gather and connect with each other.

She never thought it would end up being at Fort Taber Park.

After another location she was eyeing fell though, she heard the stand in the park was for sale and put in a bid.

She never expected to get it.

"I was a little fish in a big pond. But they awarded me the contract anyway," she admitted. Upon opening last summer, people were very surprised to see a business because it was empty for over two years.

"People were expecting food because of the previous tenants," she said. "So that was a little bit of a struggle in the beginning. But now people get it."

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Although the business is a solo venture, Ferracioli said her family helps her tremendously throughout the process, especially when it comes to taste-testing.

She also receives help with the designs for her website and social media from her partner Kevin Rose Jr., who is the acting CEO of the local business Unplugged Essentials — hemp-infused organic bath soaks.

"He is one of the biggest supporters," she said. "He's taught me all of the automation tools, setting up the website, you name it."

During this past summer, Ferracioli was part of the EforAll program in New Bedford, which helped her learn more about defining her customers, producing surveys asking the right questions and other marketing tips.

She also learned more about organizing finances and sale costs. "They're really great for motivation and confidence, too," she added.

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What keeps Ferracioli going every day is the surprise on people's faces when they discover their popsicles. "It can be really scary to put what's in your head out there," she admitted.

"But once you kind of take that leap, and people respond to it well, the feeling is just magical."

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Sorbae Frozen Treats opens in Fort Taber Park with organic popsicles