The History Behind 5 Classic Halloween Candies
Everyone knows that Halloween is not complete without a bag full of candy. But have you ever wondered how some of these classic candies became the beloved crowd-pleasers we know today? Believe it or not, some of them actually have their roots in agriculture. Keep reading for a little Halloween candy 101.
Candy Corn
Invented in the 1880s by a man named George Renninger, candy corn is a controversial little treat that some people love and others hate. But did you know it’s been a Halloween staple for more than a century?
When candy corn was purchased by what is now known as the Jelly Belly Candy Company in 1898, it was actually sold under the name “Chicken Feed.” It even came in packages decorated with a rooster and the motto, “King of the Candy Corn Fields.” The candy was designed to speak to the country’s agricultural roots in a time when more than half the nation lived or worked on farms.
Today, candy companies produce these sweet goodies at a rapid rate. Brach’s and Jelly Belly can put out more than 35 million tons of candy corn in a single year, and kids across America can expect to collectively round up a whopping 4 billion candy corn kernels on Halloween.
See more: The History of Classic Easter Candies