How is popcorn grown?

From maize to a-maize-ing. Popcorn is a beloved snack across the globe, however, it does not start its voyage from Shedquarters to your mouth as a gourmet flavour, so let's see how popcorn is grown. 

It’s hard to digest it, but corn actually played a big role in domesticating us. Around 11,000 years ago, Homo Sapiens started to select, breed, and domesticate plants and animals - one of which being corn! These kernels POPPED into existence in North, South and Central America with the cultivation of maize.

Nowadays, most of the world's popcorn is grown in the Corn Belt. No, it isn’t a giant conveyor full of corn (although that would be priceless) - it is a part of the US of A! Specifically, it covers the states in the midwest including western Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, eastern Nebraska, and eastern Kansas, where corn and soybeans are the dominant crops. Get a taste of the USA with our Maple Bacon flavoured popcorn, delicious, gluten-free AND vegan!

The early life of gourmet popcorn

Before it can officially POP, popcorn is grown as corn. During the growing season, these plants require 18-24 inches of water and plenty of space to grow into long, voluptuous parts of the pantry. As the plant grows it becomes more recognisable as the plant we know and love. This journey sees it beginning to produce ears of corn, covered with a green husk. 

Sassy, feathery tassels form at the top of the plant and produce pollen, in the form of a yellowish powder. The ears of corn then go on to form silks or long strands that catch pollen as the wind blows. So next time you see a gif of corn blowing in the wind, remember that it’s doing our beloved bees a favour. 

Once the husks have dried out and turned a nice shade of yellow, they’re ready to be harvested. 

The curing process 

After being harvested, popcorn needs to be cured. This is a process that entails drying the popcorn but allowing lots of air to get to each of the kernels. Popcorn tends to cure indoors or outdoors at a good rate, it all just takes a bit of patience to get that beautiful pop. Much like when you go to a Spanish restaurant and you see various hangings of garlic cloves, meat and peppers, popcorn requires a similar level of attention and care to produce the right kernels. 

Popcorn needs to cure for about 4 to 6 weeks, then it’s ready to be tested! After it’s been tested and deemed ready for consumption, that’s when we take charge and have it shipped to Shedquarters, where we turn it into the gourmet popcorn flavours you know and love! 

Join the popcorn revolution!

Have you heard? Now you can get gourmet popcorn in the post, that’s right, all the way from the Corn Belt to your front door with Popcorn Sheds Letterbox Popcorn. Yum yum! 

If you enjoyed this guide, check out our piece about the different types of popcorn kernels - a really captivating read! If you want to find out more about Popcorn’s journey, why not take a look at our blog? Full of guides, recipes and tales from the world of Captain Kernel. 

Stay up to date with everything that pops off at Shedquarters by joining our mailing list. See you next time, Popcorn Enthusiasts!