Why popcorn is a vital economic component in Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana – Popcorn is a staple food in a variety of American settings, including movie theaters and athletic activities.

In 2012 alone, the United States Census Bureau estimates that 785.7 million pounds of popcorn were farmed there.

Where is the source of all that popcorn? The majority of the grain is produced in Midwesterner states including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, and Ohio, according to the United States Popcorn Board.

Tasting Table claims that Nebraska has long been regarded as the top state in the union for popcorn production. Up to 45% of the nation’s popcorn is reportedly grown in the Cornhusker State, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

AgriNews reported in 2022 that Indiana has surpassed Nebraska to become the country’s leading popcorn producer. In terms of popcorn acreage, the Hoosier State surpassed Nebraska in 2021.

In 2021, Indiana planted more than 97,000 acres of popcorn, according to USDA data. Between 2017 and 21, the Hoosier State increased the area planted to popcorn by almost 14,000 acres.

Born in 1907 on a farm near Brazil, Indiana, Orville Redenbacher is closely associated with Indiana’s rich heritage of popcorn production. Later, Redenbacher introduced a popcorn brand under his own name.

According to the website for the popcorn company, Redenbacher started growing and selling his own popcorn when he was twelve years old in Brazil. He was able to accumulate enough money from his then-small firm to enroll in Purdue University and obtain a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science.

Redenbacher’s popcorn made its debut on grocery store shelves in 1944, as stated on the website of his business.

By 1965, Redenbacher and Charles Bowan, his business partner, had created their “perfect popcorn hybrid.” The Redenbacher-only kernel, according to the company’s website, is fluffy and light, leaving “hardly any unpopped kernels.” According to the company website, the Redenbacher kernel has a 44-1 ratio of popped to unpopped kernels.

Despite Redenbacher’s passing in 1995, his company remains one of the leading popcorn brands in the United States. The company manufactures a wide range of popcorn flavors, oils, and seasonings.

The company’s website states that Orville Redenbacher is still the most popular microwave popcorn brand in the United States.

Orville Redenbacher is the most popular popcorn brand in the nation, outpacing Pop Secret and ACT II, according to Statista data. Forbes reports that Congara Brands, the company that currently controls Orville Redenbacher, made $12.2 billion in sales in 2023. According to the same Forbes report, Congara has already turned a profit of $805 million this year.