LANSING, Mich. — A Houghton Lake woman has earned sweet bragging rights after winning a contest to name the official ice cream flavor of Michigan state parks and Pure Michigan.

The Pure Michigan Caramel Apple flavor created by Dawn Dummer is a lightly flavored green apple ice cream swirled with Michigan apple and Michigan caramel, and was voted the winner out of four finalists during a recent tasting event at the Livonia Meijer store in Livonia.

Dummer said the flavor reflects her love for the state she calls home. “I’ve never entered a contest before other than bingo,” she said, “but I had to do this one. It’s about Michigan, and I love Michigan – it’s my home state and I’m proud of it.”

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) joined with Hudsonville Ice Cream and Pure Michigan to launch the “Create a Flavor” contest in January, and interest was immediate. More than 3,000 flavor suggestions were submitted, ranging from Tahquamenon Falls Root Beer Sundae to Hex Hatch Jubilee, each evoking the sights, sounds and nostalgia of getting away from it all in Michigan’s great outdoors.

As the winning flavor, Pure Michigan Caramel Apple will serve as the official ice cream of Michigan state parks and Pure Michigan. It will be distributed through Meijer and other retail outlets, as well as ice cream parlors throughout the state and Midwest.

The ice cream also will be given out at stops along the DNR’s statewide RV ice cream tour to help promote Recreation 101, the DNR’s popular outreach and education program at Michigan state parks. Meijer will serve as the official retail partner in this campaign, set to begin in May, according to Hudsonville Director of Sales and Marketing Bruce Kratt.

The winning flavor was selected by a panel of young judges – winners of the 2012 Outstanding Outdoor Kids selected by the DNR, including Lexi Loehfelm, 11, of Ada; Noah Ekdom, 12, of Roscommon; and Jimmy McGrath, 15, of Carleton – along with Meijer Corporate Research Chef Ray Sierengowski.

The other three flavor finalists were Michigan Chocolate Covered Cherries, submitted by Heather Klaver of Grand Rapids; Pure Michigan Jubilee, submitted by Gary Kesler of Grandville; and Shiver MI Timbers, submitted by Carla Reczek of Oak Park.

“This contest has been an exciting partnership with Hudsonville and Pure Michigan, and a creative way to get people thinking about recreation-based tourism,” said DNR Director Rodney Stokes. “Just about everyone has favorite memories of time spent at our state parks. Now they can enjoy an ice cream that sparks those same good feelings and memories.”

Michael A. Finney, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., praised the unique partnership that made this venture possible.

“Pure Michigan focuses on the people, places, opportunities and treasures that are uniquely Michigan,” he said. “Meijer, Hudsonville and several state agencies found a fun way to connect people to our wealth of recreation opportunities, while embracing the unique taste of Michigan.”

“We are excited to support ventures promoting both our state’s rich food and agricultural heritage, as well as our tourism industry,” said Keith Creagh, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. “‘Create a Flavor’ shines as a spotlight on simple, homegrown Michigan pleasures: food, family and fun in the great outdoors.”

For submitting the winning flavor combination, Dummer has earned free Hudsonville ice cream for a year, a one-week stay in a Michigan state park or harbor of her choice, a $1,000 Meijer gift card and Pure Michigan merchandise.