POPCORN: AN INDUSTRY WITH POPULAR APPEAL

A food served at the nation's first Thanksgiving feast in New England more than 300 years ago is more popular than ever.

Popcorn, native to North America, was raised and introduced by Indians, who used the grain for food and decorations,

Americans today consume buckets of popcorn annually.

Sales of American popcorn have topped the billion-pound mark each of the past five years.

U.S. consumption alone is more than 17 billion quarts of "popped" popcorn. That translates into 68 quarts a year for every man, woman and child in the United States.

Popcorn preparation has come a long way in history, from holding a pan with popcorn kernels and oil over a hot stove, to popping it into a microwave oven for two minutes.

Popcorn in Missouri is grown in three general areas, said Dave Emslie of the Missouri Agriculture Statistics Service. Most of the popcorn grown in the state is on a "contract" basis for various popcorn companies.

The Bootheel area of Missouri is one of the three popcorn-producing areas. The corn is also found in the west-central area, just south of Kansas City, and in the northwest area.

Missouri is among the top 10 popcorn producing states.

Nationally, popcorn production has more than doubled over the past 15 years, from 520 million pounds in 1979 to 1.1 billion pounds last year.

Almost all popcorn consumed throughout the world is grown in the United States, according to the Popcorn Institute of Chicago. The Popcorn Institute is a trade association representing the popcorn industry.

"Attempts have been made to grow popcorn in other countries, but with disappointing results when compared to the excellent U.S. quality," said Kristine Stromberg of the Popcorn Institute's public affairs office.

Americans consume more popcorn than the citizens of any other country. About 70 percent of popcorn grown in the United States is eaten in the home, with about 30 percent outside the home -- theaters, stadiums, schools, office snack breaks. The unpopped market accounts for 90 percent of sales for home consumption.

Indiana and Illinois are top popcorn-producing states. Indiana plants as many as 70,000 acres a year, with Illinois planting about 35,000 acres. Missouri planted about 6,300 acres until this year, when popcorn acreage dropped to about 4,300 acres. Other big popcorn-producing states include Nebraska, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan and Kentucky.

A number of factors influence popcorn quality, the Popcorn Institute said.

"These include kernel moisture and expansion ratio, processing procedures, home storage and home handling," Stromberg said.

To achieve the utmost in "pop ability," noted Stromberg, the moisture content of popcorn should be from 13 to 14.5 percent. "Moisture content over or under these percentages, greatly reduces pop ability."

Good popcorn should provide at least 98 percent popped kernels. Home handling can affect this.

Stromberg said popcorn should be stored in airtight containers until used, and that popcorn should never be stored inside a refrigerator because air inside a refrigerator contains very little moisture and can cause the popcorn to dry out.

"Popcorn is certainly big business," said John Story, of Story Farms, which raises and markets Story Gourmet Popcorn from its facilities in Mississippi County.

Story's Gourmet Foods include two products, mustard and popcorn. The Story products can be found in markets throughout the country.

"Some popcorn people say that Southeast Missouri land is the best in the country for raising popcorn, Story said. "We started experimenting with popcorn a number of years ago, selling it to popcorn companies in the north."

The Story company decided to introduce the popcorn to its gourmet food line in the late 1980s.

One of the big varieties in the Story line is the microwave product that can be popped on the cob.

"We leave the corn on the cob," he said. "When you're ready to pop it, you butter the corn on the cob, place it in the microwave and pop it."

About 60 percent of the corn pops off the cob, Story said, and what remains on the cob can also be eaten.

The Story Farm, which raises soybeans, corn and wheat, has about 350 acres of popcorn this year.

"We've had as many as 1,500 acres in past years, and may increase our acreage in the future," he said, explaining:

"We used to provide some northern popcorn companies with corn. Some popcorn was raised in the north, but not of the quality the companies wanted."

That has changed. A number of new varieties have been introduced over the years, and some northern varieties are producing good quality popcorn, which provides a savings in freight for the northern popcorn companies.

With C&F Foods, which handles popcorn, moving into Sikeston, Southeast Missouri farmers may find a new popcorn market.

Meanwhile, one of the largest popcorn producers of private-label microwave popcorn in the United States is in Southeast Missouri -- Gilster-Mary Lee Popcorn, with facilities at McBride, between Perryville and Chester, Ill.

Gilster-Mary Lee produces about 15,000 cases of microwave popcorn a day. Among brands made at the plant are Paul Newman's Own, President's Choice, IGA, Kroger, Hyde Park and Gilster's own brand, Hospitality.

Each brand is different, said Donald E. Welge, of Gilster-Mary Lee. The products are all similar but a little different.

A portion of the corn the plant uses is grown in Southern Illinois, but the majority of the popcorn is shipped by suppliers from Indiana, Ohio and Iowa.

Gilster-Mary Lee Popcorn is shipped throughout the country and to a number of foreign countries.

Popcorn facts

The moisture content of popcorn should be from 13 percent to 14.5 percent. The 13.5 percent is considered ideal.

Do not put unpopped corn in a refrigerator. Air inside a refrigerator contains little moisture and can cause the popcorn to dry out.

Americans consume an average of 68 quarts of popped popcorn a year.

Some 70 percent of popcorn is eaten at home by Americans.

Peak period for popcorn sales is in the fall.

Popcorn is a native North American product.

Popcorn is a universally popular snack with all age groups.

Almost all popcorn consumed in the world is grown in the United States.

Major popcorn-producing states are, in alphabetical order, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska and Ohio.

U.S. popcorn production

1994 acreage and yield in pounds

Illinois, 35,700, 130,541

Indiana, 77,600, 275,540

Iowa, 7,600, 22,144

Kansas, 9,400, 29,509

Kentucky, 2,300, 12,314

Michigan, 2,100, 6,214

Missouri, 4,300, 12,190

Nebraska, 27,500, 64,616

Ohio, 14,900, 56,310

*Others, 8,700, 30,075

*California, Ontario (Canada), Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.

U.S. popcorn sales

Year and pounds

1994, 1.1 billion

1993, 1.2 billion

1992, 1.1 billion

1991, 1.0 billion

1990, 938 million

1989, 872 million

1988, 807 million

1987, 741 million

1986, 700 million

1985. 670 million

1984, 630 million

1983, 618 million

1982, 611 million

1981, 600 million

1980, 568 million

1979, 520 million.