A familiar name in Allegany County’s entrepreneurial landscape is back with a fresh idea—and this time, it’s frozen. Todd Helmick, founder and former owner of well-known Western Maryland Lemonade, has returned to his roots with Mountain Maryland Foods, a new food venture that’s quickly gaining traction at local farmers' markets and beyond.
Launched in early 2025, Mountain Maryland Foods operates as a small-batch production kitchen and market vendor, with Helmick experimenting with dozens of preservative-free products made from locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
“This is an experiment right now,” Helmick said. “I’m using a shared space with Caporale’s Bakery. Dave Caporale and I have been best friends since the 1990s. It started as a trade-off: he wanted help jarring his pizza sauce, and in return, I got access to his kitchen. It’s a win-win.”
With a rotating menu of nearly 70 food items, from heirloom bean soup to Big Mac pasta salad, wild mushroom dips, pickled eggs, house-made yogurt, and seasonal waffles, Helmick is testing what works, refining recipes, and preparing to scale. This summer, however, one product has been a particular standout: homemade freeze pops. “Our biggest item right now is freeze pops,” Helmick noted. “And these aren’t your normal freeze pops. We try to incorporate as many local ingredients as possible. One of our best sellers is peaches and honey. The honey comes from Flintstone, Maryland, and the peaches are from Ruggles Orchard across the river in West Virginia.”
Helmick has developed nearly 60 freeze pop flavors to date, with options ranging from blood orange and key lime to chai latte, root beer float, sour cherry and lime, and passionfruit, all of which share the brand’s commitment to simplicity and freshness.
“One of our slogans is ‘read the ingredients,’” Helmick emphasized. “Everything we make is going to require refrigeration or freezing. No preservatives. It’s better for you, and it tastes better.”
Helmick has deep roots in Allegany County. After serving as Fort Hill High School's football captain and playing at Florida State University, he returned home in the 1990s to earn a Computer Programming Certification from Allegany College of Maryland. After working for the Pittsburgh Pirates front office, he moved to the Baltimore/DC area to work for the Washington Capitals/Wizards where he resided for nearly two decades and began a website development career. In 1999, he launched his own college football website Nationalchamps.net before eventually settling back down in Cumberland.
“The slower pace of life in Allegany County is a good thing,” Helmick said. “It allows me more time to grow my food, experiment, and really focus on what I want this business to become. Allegany County’s cost of doing business is a huge advantage. Lease costs are cheaper, and you’re two hours from everywhere: Baltimore, DC, Pittsburgh, Morgantown. It’s a smart place to build something.”
After founding Western Maryland Lemonade and turning it into a recognizable brand across the region, he sold the business in late 2024 and began planning his next venture. For Helmick, the move into food products is a natural evolution of a long career in entrepreneurship and his passion for food, which began decades earlier as a backyard gardener. “It all started out with gardening as a hobby,” he said. “I love to eat what I grow, and I’ve done that since my 20s.”
Helmick piloted his produce and lemonades at farmers' markets. Today, the Cumberland Farmers Market serves as a testing ground, where Helmick watches what sells, what doesn’t, and what’s practical to produce at scale. “I observe what people buy and don’t buy. That helps me refine the product line and figure out what might make sense for wholesale,” he explained. “I want a diverse product mix, so we’re not relying only on seasonal items.”
The next step in his journey is to secure a dedicated space. Helmick plans to work with Allegany County Economic and Community Development to identify a building to lease and navigate the state licensing process for wholesale food production. “The goal is to begin wholesaling next summer with five or six core products,” he said. “I imagine we’ll keep the freeze pops no matter what; they’ve been such a hit.”
Mountain Maryland Foods is one of many homegrown food businesses boosting the region's entrepreneurial energy. “Todd’s story is a perfect example of how Allegany County supports innovators at every stage of the journey,” said Nathan Price, Senior Project Manager for Allegany County Economic and Community Development. “He’s testing his concept in a smart, sustainable way and laying the groundwork for long-term success. We’re excited to help him take the next step.”
With a strong reputation, a loyal customer base, and a commitment to locally sourced ingredients, Mountain Maryland Foods is poised to become a lasting part of the region’s culinary scene, and its small-batch freeze pops are just the beginning.
Read more stories about local business growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Allegany County here.
