First, Where did
popcorn come from?
Popcorn has existed for longer than most people realize. The
word "corn" was originally applied to the most-used grain of a specific
place. Centuries ago, maize was the most common grain in America so it took
the name "corn." It keeps the name today.
It is believed that the first use of wild and early
cultivated corn was for popping. This "pop" corn played vital roles in Aztec
ceremonies, both as food and decoration. Around the mid 1800's many American
settlers began planting maize, or "popcorn."
The industry grew throughout the 20th century and now
Americans consume 17 billion quarts of popped popcorn each year! You can find
popcorn at almost any place associated with fun, food, and fitness- movie
theaters, sporting events, entertainment arenas, amusement parks, and other
recreational centers. It is definitely one of our country's favorite snack
foods and is a healthy choice.
Second, A little
bit about our business...
Gary
and Marian Schlaegel started raising popcorn on their farm near Whiting, Kansas
almost 30 years ago. We now dedicate around 10 acres of crop ground to popcorn
and package two varieties- yellow and white.
In 1995, Gary and Marian began making caramel popcorn in the
basement of their house using Grandma Schlaegel's family recipe. Since then,
they have built a separate building to house the popcorn business and have
added many more popcorn flavors- (and
subtracted a few as well-- does watermelon or black licorice popcorn sound good to anyone?
Me neither.) Today we sell 30 different flavors packaged in three different sizes.
Gary and Marian began to offer gift boxes and decorative tins
shortly after they started selling popped popcorn in the mid '90s. These items make great gifts, and as
a result our busiest time of the year is now the months of holiday shopping
leading up to Christmas.
In 2006,
Gary and Marian added me as a partner to the business. Having been their
summer and weekend help throughout high school and college, the transition was
very smooth, and we have accomplished a lot in the last few years. We are very
excited about how far we have come as a business and even more excited about
where we are headed.
Finally, Come
visit us!
The best way to learn
more about our business and to purchase our products is to see it
first hand. We encourage you stop by or set up a tour by calling
(800)844-7494. We hope to hear from you soon! --Mike
Tanking