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Anasazi
Period 500 - 1200 A.D.
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Harvest
petroglyph
Site: Canyonlands National Park |
Evidence of the growth
and use of corn in the United States dates to the period 500-1200 AD.
Cave dwelling images (carved in rock) called petroglyphs (see photos)
and archaeological findings indicate corn was a staple food during the
Anasazi period in the Four Canyons Area. The Four Canyons National Park
is located in Utah and extends to the border areas of Colorado, New Mexico
and Arizona. Various tribes of this era are believed to have developed
highly sophisticated methods of food production, irrigation and preservation
systems. Cave images show corn stalks, sun and a variety of other images.
Notable is the image Kokopelli that reappears on cave walls throughout
this area. Kokopelli is depicted as a whimsical, hump back playing the
flute (see photo below). However, Kokopelli was probably like an early
Johnny Appleseed. Traveling from village to village, he probably bartered
seeds from the sack he carried on his back and discussed seeds, fertilization
and irrigation with neighboring tribes.
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petroglyph
of Kokopelli leading 4 dancers
Site: Canyonlands National Park |
He most likely influenced
now accepted principles of genetic breeding and contributed to fertilization
and irrigation (see photo right). The corn of this era, however, is a
far cry from today's popcorn with a hard outer shell (pericarp) that retains
moisture and when popped, produces a fluffy ball much like a cumulus cloud.
The Anasazi tribes are reported to have disappeared about 1200 AD. Recent
studies indicate they probably abandoned their sites due to drought and
need to defend scarce resources from nomadic aboriginals. They are believed
to have became absorbed in the larger and safer city-pueblos of the Hopi
and Zuni peoples. Whether or not this early corn grown during the Anasazi
Era survived and become the maize grown by Native Americans in other parts
of the U.S. and thought to have been introduced to the Colonists is speculation.
Fast
Forward to the 1900's
Popcorn was popular in the U.S. from the 1890's until the Depression of
1929. During the Depression, street vendors followed the crowds - pushing
steam or gas-powered poppers through fairs, parks and expositions. During
the Depression popcorn at 5 or 10 cents a bag was one of the few luxuries
poor families could afford.* While other businesses failed, popcorn businesses
thrived. It is reported that an Oklahoma banker who went broke bought
a popcorn machine and started a business in a small store near a theater.
After a couple of years, his popcorn business made enough money to buy
back three of the farms he had lost. During World War II, sugar was sent
overseas to support U.S. troops. This meant there was not much sugar left
to make candy. As a result, American ate three times as much popcorn as
usual.*
1950's
to Present
Popcorn's popularity slumped during the 1950's when television became
popular and theater attendance dropped. When people began eating popcorn
at home, the new relationship between television and popcorn led to a
resurgence in popularity.*
This trend has continued. Today, U.S. popcorn growers annually produce
over 900 million pounds of raw popcorn. According to one source: this
is enough to fill a tub the size of a Mammoth Cave. About 20% of domestic
production is exported. The top state producer is Nebraska with about
30% of the U.S. total.
Once processed and packaged, popcorn is offered to consumers in a variety
of formats and flavors. It is sold in outlets as varied as Department
Stores and QVC to movie complexes with huge snack facilities duplicating
old fashioned Drive Ins. An expanding economy has created a whole new
environment for the consumption of popcorn - the home theatre. This factor,
growing distribution channels, new recipes and uses for popcorn and a
growing awareness of the healthful and nutritious aspects of this product
predict a bright and continued future for the popcorn industry.
Thank you for viewing Heartland's History of Popcorn.
* As reported by The Popcorn Institute of Chicago, Il 1996
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View Heartland
Gourmet Popcorn
Products and get a 5% discount on your total purchase.
At checkout enter the code "history" in the field labeled
"Coupon code" in the Shopping Cart section.
Discounts
are based on total value of products purchased. Does not include
shipping. Can not be combined with other specials, discounts or
promotionals.
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