Posted on 06/20/2019 2:22:39 PM PDT by Red Badger
Bridgett O'Brian makes a fresh batch of popcorn in 2014. Popcorn prices are predicted to increase, as supplies dwindle from farmers unable to plant this spring. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
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EVANSVILLE, Ind., June 20 (UPI) -- Going to a movie could become pricier later this year for people who enjoy popcorn with a flick. The snack will be in short supply because relentless spring rain prevented many growers across the Midwest from planting.
Popcorn processors estimate 30 to 40 percent of the nation's popcorn fields went unplanted this spring -- and the crops in many that were planted are growing poorly.
"It will be scarce," said Patrick Hopkins, an owner of Amish Country Popcorn, a family-owned popcorn distributor in Berne, Ind. "We actually just finished planting last week. We were very fortunate that we got it in. We've heard that a lot of popcorn growers were not able to get much planted."
What's more, most of the popcorn crop was planted too late to achieve normal fall yields. And many areas of the Midwest continue to experience record-breaking rainfall that is soaking newly planted fields, threatening to drown the young plants.
The reduced supply means that the price for popcorn will rise, said Brian Churchill, the Indiana plant manager for Preferred Popcorn.
"I'm guessing we'll see a 10 to 20 percent increase in price," Churchill said. "There will not be a shortage. Theaters will not run out of popcorn. But prices should be increasing, and eventually that will have to be passed on to the consumer."
It's too early to say for certain how much of an impact reduced planting will have on supplies or prices, Churchill said.
That is partly because the U.S. Department of Agriculture does not track popcorn production on a yearly basis. Therefore, the exact number of popcorn acres that could not be planted is unknown.
"We don't have any statistics on popcorn, other than it tends to follow corn," said Greg Matli, a state statistician with the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service's Indiana Field Office. "So, if they're behind in planting corn, they are behind in planting popcorn."
And corn planting is far behind.
As of Monday afternoon, farmers across the country had finished planting 92 percent of the acres they intend to plant in 2019, according to the USDA. In a normal year, planting finishes in early June.
But even this figure is misleading because farmers' intentions continually change, Matli said.
"So, you can have an area that has 80 percent of their intended acres planted," he said. "But, if everybody gives up and decides not to plant the rest of their acres, then next week it will show 100 percent planted, even though they've not planted anything."
The USDA will release data on the total number of corn acres planted this year in late June, Matli said. That report is likely to show a substantial number of acres were not planted.
The majority of the corn grown in the United States is known as "field corn," which often is a genetically modified corn variety with tough, bitter kernels used in animal feed and ethanol and processed into many food ingredients.
The majority of the roughly 90 million acres of corn grown each year in the United States is field corn. Only about 250,000 of those acres are devoted to popcorn -- mostly in Indiana and Nebraska. That's less than 3 percent.
"It's a very niche market," Churchill said.
I’ll need it on election night.
LOL, we will need lotsa popcorn as we enjoy watching the liberals meltdown
There’s another growing season between now and then............
Darn, with all the Democrat Debates coming up too.
Rains Smains
It’s the democrat primary that’s going to put excess demand on popcorn.
I’m sure they got that ethanol corn planted OK.
Shouldn’t come as any surprise.
‘We’ warned everyone to stock up.
Maybe they did, causing a shortage.
Of course, no one ‘mentioned’ the approval for more ethanol did they? (I know, I know....but may as well have some ‘fun’)
About the only things comparable in profitability are soaps/shampoos/detergents and bottled water. There, the most expensive things are the containers.
Exactly. I’m sure the ethanol corn is healthy and robust.
I love popcorn but horrible for teeth and digestion. God help you if a kernel gets stuck in your throat. I’ve had that happen and it’s terrible.
“Exactly. I’m sure the ethanol corn is healthy and robust.”
And ready to prematurely destroy the seals in my engine, and give me less MPG.
"...popcorn shortage..."
Hey DS,
I’m a Jiffy Pop fan.
Ed D
“The popcorn sold at movie theaters makes way more money for the operators than the movie.”
Absolutely true. I worked at a four-plex movie theatre back in the early to mid 80’s. I can’t remember the exact margin between cost to make it and the price it was sold at - but it was frickin’ huge!
“Wait. So we recover from the profound heartbreak of the alleged avocado shortage and now THIS potential tragedy besets us?”
My advice to you is to start drinking heavily.
Wow! I won the commodity game for once. I picked up a 24 pack of 6oz Great Northern Popcorn Co. Kettle ready packs a few weeks back. I’m rich! (Dang good Theater tasting Popcorn to boot)
LoL!
The Strategic Artificial Butter Reserve is still topped off though, so no need to panic just yet.
If the wet blanket ‘rain gods’ were sent on a mission to destroy the popcorn crop, you know the show is going to be good.
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