Americans have a love of popcorn. They consume some 51 quarts per person annually. They eat popcorn mainly in the comfort of their own homes, but they also purchase in other outlets. While the type of popcorn devoured at home may be mainly “plain” or “buttered,” this is not always the case with what they may buy away from home. Out there, flavored or candy popcorn in Orlando FL and other places in and out of state is king.
Where Americans Buy Popcorn
Americans have a wide assortment of places form which to purchase popcorn. They can pick it up at:
- Retail stores – this accounts for approximately 70% of all popcorn purchases. This includes specialty stores like Park Avenue Popcorn Shoppe and mall outlets or stalls
- Movie Theaters
- Sporting events
- Entertainment Centers – both video and non-video types
- Amusement parks
Popcorn is even available online. While much of the popcorn consumed is plain or buttered, there is a growing market for candy popcorn.
Candy Popcorn
Caramel corn was the first attempt to produce candy popcorn. It first appeared for mass consumption in 1896 at the Chicago Columbian World Fair. F.W. and Louis Rueckheim provide the world with the first taste. They had to improve the original formula but, soon, came out with Cracker Jacks. This became a popular candy corn at fairs, carnivals and baseball games from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Pink candy popcorn appeared in the 1950s. An early producer of this product was Lucky elephant popcorn in Canada. They, like Cracker Jacks are still making their product. In the 1970s or 1980s, a Californian company has a similar candy pink concoction.
Today, the availability and variety of candy coated popcorn has expanded. You could even say the interest in different flavored popcorn has exploded as people are eager to try new types of candy corn. Although some of the gourmet flavors are not candied, many are. You can try glazed, nutty types stuck together with sweet sticky toffee and various berry and gum-type popcorn flavors. Yet, in a world where tastes differ, caramel remains. This candy popcorn in Orlando FL and elsewhere is still a fan favorite.
