Will Drought Pop the Popcorn Market?

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Americans love their popcorn. The Popcorn Board added up sales and figured how much people eat. It turns out the average for every man, woman and child in the country is 52 quarts a year. That is some serious popcorn eating.

Should you worry that popcorn will disappear from the movie theater? That is not likely to happen soon, but if prices keep rising the kernels may stop popping. Gary Smith is concerned about that. He told Radio Iowa:

We’re at the highest point we’ve ever been because of the price of corn. Now with the drought, corn prices have rallied more, and so we’re looking at another increase, which is a big worry because at some point, America’s consumer is gonna say ‘your products too expensive, I don’t want you any more,’ and I don’t think we’ve gotten there yet. But where is that threshold? I’m not absolutely sure.

Even people who have never heard of the 98-year-old American Popcorn Company will know one of its branches, Jolly Time Popcorn. Four generations of the Smith family have been in the popcorn business. They know their product. The current generation tracks the drought news and can’t help but sound a bit worried.

Related Care2 Stories

Is Popcorn the Latest Superfood?

Global Warming Could Scorch America’s Breadbasket

U.S. in Worst Drought Since 1956

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Photo credits: Thinkstock

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Duane B.

8:00AM PST on Jan 13, 2013

Thank you for sharing.

January 13
send a green star

Vicky P.

2:05PM PDT on Sep 12, 2012

thanks

September 12
send a green star

Jennifer C.

5:59AM PDT on Sep 11, 2012

Thanks.

September 11
send a green star

Harshiita S.

4:26AM PDT on Sep 11, 2012

Thanks

Ajla C.

2:23AM PDT on Sep 11, 2012

TY.

John R.

7:32PM PDT on Sep 10, 2012

Suzanne B,

Now, if we would add to popcorn [lots of butter probably], red meat, fast food menus, processed foods and too many sweets, etc. America just might become a healthy nation once again.

NOW I LIKE YOUR THINKING!

Ask me what I grow in my garden --

September 10
send a green star

Sue M.

2:39PM PDT on Sep 10, 2012

Michael K.

10:01AM PDT on Sep 10, 2012

I can't stand the smell of popcorn. I don't eat corn or soy or anything made from them. Yes drought is a problem. Weather patterns today have been modified by our meddling with the ionosphere [HAARP] and the atmosphere - manufacturing pollutions, deforestation, oceanic pollution and overfishing; oil spills and chemtrails.