Candy Brands: Brach’s

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What would Halloween be without candy corn?  It has been enjoyed for over 100 years.  According to Brach’s, the top branded maker of candy corn, each year Americans buy enough Brach’s candy corn that if the kernels were laid end to end, they would circle around the Earth 4.5 times.  Brach’s candy pumpkin, known by the trademark name “Mellow Cream” is the most popular candy pumpkin.  They are popular both for their unique texture and for being fat free.  Candy pumpkins are made using the same process used to make candy corn.  The ingredients include corn syrup, real honey, and sugar. 

Amusingly, candy pumpkins played a role in the U.S. Implementation of Daylight Saving Time.  Since the 1960s, candy makers had wanted to get the trick-or-treat period covered by Daylight Saving.  They believed if children had an extra hour of daylight, they would have more time to collect candy, which would boost candy sales.  During the 1985 U.S. Congressional hearings on Daylight Saving, the candy industry went so far as to put candy pumpkins on the seat of every senator, hoping to win a little favor.  Soon, Daylight Saving Time was extended through the first Sunday in November.

By: Ashley Popham