Saturday, October 29, 2005

Happy Candy Corn Day!

Did you know October 30th is officially National Candy Corn Day? While no one is positive, tradition has it that George Runninger at Wunderle Candy Co. of Philadelphia, came up with the first candy corn in the 1880s. Jelly Belly started making it in 1898 when they were the Goelitz Confectionery Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. To this day they still use the original recipe.
Back in the day, Candy Corn workers were called 'runners' and each one was responsible for making 50 batches per day. To achieve the 3 colors, runners had to make three separate "passes" with 50 pounds of hot steaming fondant depositing a little bit of candy at just the right rate into cornstarch molds with the kernel shape. The same technique is used today, although it's done by machine.
~ Some Candy Corn Trivia ~

~ Candy Corn has survived 2 world wars & the Depression.

~ Candy Corn was popular among farmers because of it's agricultural look.

~ The line has also been made in such various shapes as chestnuts, turnips and over leaves.

~ The current line includes: Cupid Corn, Bunny Corn and Reindeer Corn for the other seasons.

~ According to the National Confectioners Association, more than 35 million pounds of Candy Corn are made annually. (approx. 9 billion kernels) That's enough to circle the moon 4 times if laid end-to-end.

~ Candy Corn contains no fat & has 4 calories per kernel.

~ Halloween constitutes 75% of annual Candy Corn production.


Technorati tags: candy corn, jelly belly, national candy corn day, cincinnati, philadelphia

posted by jane at 8:40 PM