"On The Cob" Popcorn

"On The Cob" Popcorn FARM HOME Food 32-5-7 You won't find Mr. Popping Cob "on the cob" popcorn in big chain stores, and Lloyd DeLuke plans to keep it that way. "I only sell it to specialty stores and farmers markets because I want to keep it special," he says. He sells individually wrapped ears of corn. Customers love the novelty of starting with a cob that produces 1 1/2 quarts of popcorn and leaves some of the popped corn on the cob. (It pops in a bowl in the microwave.) The Burnt Hills, N.Y., businessman discovered the concept a couple of decades ago when he set up a business selling a variety of items from farm producers, including jams, honey and Mason jars with ears of popcorn. "I decided to make the popcorn an everyday item," DeLuke says. He experimented with varieties and moisture content to get the biggest ears with the highest quality corn. He contracts with farmers who grow the corn to his specs. Eighteen years ago he peddled his corn at small stores out East. Since then, it's been sold to customers all across the country, and it's available at his website. "Customers come back every year, and it's become a tradition for a lot of people," DeLuke says. Many customers buy Mr. Popping Cob at orchards in the fall when they buy apples. Others use them for Christmas stocking stuffers, Easter Basket or gift baskets. One couple bought 200 of them for table gifts at their wedding. Boy Scouts, an ice-skating club and other school groups use them for fundraising. Retailers sell the corn for $1.25 to $2.50 each. He sells 12 ears for $25 at his website. DeLuke is interested in hearing from people who want to resell his corn. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mr. Popping Cob, Lloyd DeLuke, 690 Saratoga Rd., Burnt Hills, N.Y. 12027 (ph 518 527-0667; www.mrpoppingcob.com).

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