Kansas Citians familiar with the local food scene know José Luis Valdez — who, as a young boy, sold paletas (popsicles) in Guerrero, Mexico — for his ice cream empire, Paleterias Tropicana. Now, the rest of the nation knows his name, too.
Paleterías Tropicana landed a spot in a feature in The New York Times on American ice cream — one of 12 ice cream shops recognized nationwide. Valdez said this recognition serves as a mark of the American dream.
