For more than 25 years, October has been celebrated as National Popcorn Poppin’ Month; however, it became "official" in 1999, when then Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman proclaimed October as National Popcorn Poppin’ Month.

While every day is a great day for celebrating popcorn, we chose the month of October because of the popcorn harvest which takes place each fall in the Midwest. Each year when the new crop is harvested, it reminds us popcorn will always be the naturally fun snack for the entire family. Popcorn Poppin' Month is the perfect time to celebrate popcorn.
Corny Facts

• Americans consume some 16 billion quarts of this whole grain, good-for-you treat. That’s 54 quarts per man, woman, and child.
• Compared to most snack foods, popcorn is low in calories. Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories per cup. Oil-popped is only 55 per cup.
• Most U.S. popcorn is grown in the Midwest, primarily in Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri.
• Many people believe the acres of corn they see in the Midwest during growing season could be picked and eaten for dinner, or dried and popped. In fact, those acres are typically field corn, which is used largely for livestock feed, and differs from both sweet corn and popcorn.
• The peak period for popcorn sales for home consumption is in the fall.
• Most popcorn comes in two basic shapes when it's popped: snowflake and mushroom. Snowflake is used in movie theaters and ballparks because it looks and pops bigger. Mushroom is used for candy confections because it doesn't crumble.
• Popping popcorn is one of the number one uses for microwave ovens. Most microwave ovens have a “popcorn” control button.
• “Popability” is popcorn lingo that refers to the percentage of kernels that pop.
• There is no such thing as “hull-less” popcorn. All popcorn needs a hull in order to pop. Some varieties of popcorn have been bred so the hull shatters upon popping, making it appear to be hull-less.
• How high popcorn kernels can pop? Up to 3 feet in the air.
• On September 29, 2006 a new record was set for the World's Largest Popcorn Ball, as measured by the Guinness Book of World Records.  Eight feet in diameter and nearly 24.5 feet in circumference, this gargantuan confectionary creation weighed in at a whopping 3,423 pounds.  It took two days for employees of The Popcorn Factory to create the ball.
• If you made a trail of popcorn from New York City to Los Angeles, you would need more than 352,028,160 popped kernels!
  
  Yet when all is said and done, popcorn is simply a great tasting food.  Surprise your family and friends with a popcorn treat today in honor of National Popcorn Poppin’ Month.  For tasty recipes, fun facts, popcorn trivia and more, visit www.popcorn.org.
  
  

  Popcorn Fixin’s
  Looking to spice up your popcorn? Here are a few topping favorites:

  • Garlic salt
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Thyme
  • Cumin
  • Oregano
  • Dry taco seasoning mix
  • Dry ranch-style seasoning mix
  • Lemon pepper
  • Italian herbs: oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme, and crushed rosemary.
  • French herbs: marjoram, thyme, summer savory, basil, rosemary, sage, and fennel
  • Cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg