Following the American Civil War, Gustav and Albert Goelitz traveled from Germany to Illinois to join an uncle who had emigrated in 1834. After Gustav’s death, his two eldest sons revived the candy business that he and Albert had founded. The story goes that some time in the 1880s the Goelitz Confectionery Co. invented the popular Halloween treat known as Candy Corn. Records show that Goelitz was making candy corn by 1900. That firm’s successor, today’s Herman Goelitz, Inc. of Fairfield, California, is best known as the maker of Jelly Belly jelly bean candy.
A Few Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Candy Corn:
- When the Goelitz Confectionery Company first produced candy corn, it was called “Chicken Feed.” The boxes were illustrated with a colorful rooster logo and a tag line that read “Something worth crowing for.”
- You don’t have to wait for Halloween to indulge in these candies — celebrate National Candy Corn Day on October 30.
- According to the National Confectioners Association, more than 35 million pounds (or nine billion pieces) of candy corn will be produced this year.
- Candy corn contains roughly 28 grams of sugar and only 140 calories per heaping handful — and it’s fat free!
- In 1950, the price of candy corn was just 25 cents per pound.
- In honor of their Goelitz roots, Jelly Belly developed a candy corn-flavor jelly bean.
Mini Wini Halloween Ghostly Dipper
