Ice Cold Pop!

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm at the Faygo Plant, October 2006 (Photo Courtesy of the Granholm Leadership Fund)

Each summer, Mother Nature brings us hot, humid days and nights that barely cool off.Thankfully, Michigan-born businesses offer some relief in the form of sweet, refreshing treats.

FAYGO

There’s Faygo, which has been making its colorful pop in Detroit since 1907. Started by Russian brothers Ben and Perry Feigenson, Feigenson Brothers Bottling Works first offered drinks in fruit punch, strawberry and grape flavors. These flavors were inspired by frosting recipes that the men created when they worked as bakers. In 1921, the Feigenson brothers shortened the company name to Faygo. Faygo’s Web site has a more detailed history and recipes for adding Faygo to everything from ribs to cauliflower soup. Looking for some entertainment while you enjoy your pop? Check out the Faygo Boat Song (You Tube link) and the Faygo Kid (You Tube link). These old commercials may bring back some memories!

VERNOR’S

Are you in the mood for something a little less sweet? Perhaps you’d like a glass of ginger ale. Detroit pharmacist James Vernor invented Vernor’s ginger ale in the 1860s. With a close eye on quality, Vernor’s went from being sold only at a fountain in Vernor’s pharmacy to gaining fans in new markets in Ohio and New York. Now owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc., Vernor’s tells its story on the Vernor’s Web site. For a more indepth look, take a look at Lawrence L. Rouch’s The Vernor’s Story: From Gnomes to Now, a 2004 Michigan Notable Book. The Images of America series has published Vernor’s Ginger Ale by Keith Wunderlich, complete with factory photos, promotional images and shots of the company’s one-time mascot, the gnome. Both books are available at the Library of Michigan.

POP VS. SODA

Not sure if you should call these drinks pop or soda? Check out The Pop vs. Soda Web Page, which shows that Michigan is clearly a green state. (On the site’s interactive map, green represents people who use the term “pop,” as opposed to “coke” or “soda.”)

Cover to The Vernor's Story by Lawrence L. Rouch