Growing up in Iowa, popcorn was a longtime constant snack.
Never saw any need to buy “gourmet” cork sniffer varieties. In fact we always bought the cheapest stuff we could find. “Vinton” brand (Iowa) was as good as it gets. Small tender white butterfly popped kernals.
When Orville started selling in the 70s we tried it, and thought it overpriced. It was also a yellow variety of corn. Commercial or retail pre-popped popcorn uses yellow corn because it pops up tougher - it handles the jostling in shipping shipping without turning to dust.
Unfortunately, Vinton Popcorn co. is no more. Jiffy is OK. I’ve seen price increases in recent years that make it not such a great bargain any longer: I’ve read Popcorn is kind of a pain to grow compared to other varieties and requires special handling.
“Small tender white butterfly popped kernals.”
indeed ... the small white popcorn is the tastiest ... i pop it in coconut oil on the stove-top ... very lightly salted ...
My friend and his wife went to a wedding in Iowa.
She kept asking for seconds of the sweet corn, saying it was so much better than east coast corn. The family gave her a native American nickname; Two Ears!)
Also native Iowan.
I always liked the Jolly Time brand. I think it is from somewhere in SW Iowa (I’m from East Coast of Iowa, LOL.)
We also grew our own. Many nights watching television the family all growing callouses on our hands shelling it. We grew the yellow because we preferred it. And, almost as importantly, the kernels are more rounded, thus less painful to shell.
We popped it in an old seasoned pressure cooker bottom with a loose fitting lid. Usually in lard or left-over bacon drippings. Because that pan was so thick it was rare the batch was burned. I wish I had that pan today!
Most of the cheapest popcorn available in Iowa is great. Probably freshest. Probably same thing in places like Indiana.
Doubtful big population centers get the same advantage.