2021-12-TEC

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corn p o ing P w o y r e l g l a n i V Yadkin local leader ck is a ed sna v o l e b a ose le bie Mo in Ripp By Deb d / The Yadk o y Wo by Photos

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The largest of 10 storage silos at Shallowford Farms, home of Yadkin Valley Popcorn, can hold 1 million pounds of popcorn kernels.

processing. Conventional corn intended for animal feed can be put in large dryers after harvesting and is dried to a moisture content of 25% to 30%, Sam explains. However, popcorn will pop in the hot dryers, so the ears are left on the stalks to dry in the field.

If all silos were full, it would come to 7 million pounds. But there’s no need to worry about an explosion on a hot summer day. “Popcorn has to reach about 400 degrees inside the kernel to pop, so that’s not going to happen,” says Sam Vestal, company manager. As one of the state’s few popcorn growers, capable of growing as much as 2,000 acres, the Yadkinville-based company’s farm-to-snack offerings include flavored popcorn as well as the raw kernels. The products are sold in several North Carolina and East Coast supermarkets. “It’s popped and packaged right on the farm where it’s grown, Sam says. “Eating this, you’re eating your heritage.” In the field, popcorn looks and grows just like conventional corn, but it’s an entirely different variety. First of all, ears of popcorn are smaller, although they’re harvested with the same kinds of combines. Then popcorn requires special

The moisture content is also different — 12% to 13% for popcorn. Workers use a special machine to check the moisture level, because if the corn dries out too much, you’ll get nothing but duds when you start popping. (The moisture level is important because popcorn pops when, under heat, the moisture inside the kernel expands and puts pressure on the starchy surface until it explodes and turns the kernel inside

out, creating the fluffy treat that fuels movie watching.) Popcorn became associated with movies during the Great Depression, according to food historians. It was an affordable treat, and popcorn carts proliferated in cities, many setting up in front of theaters to catch patrons. Theater owners saw the snack’s popularity and began selling popcorn themselves. In recent years, popcorn has gained a reputation as a healthy snack, which has led to several national brands of bagged popcorn, plus theater-style flavors. Yadkin Valley Popcorn’s sales went up during the pandemic, possibly because people were watching movies at home but still wanted theater-style snacks. There are many varieties of popcorn that pop into different sizes and shapes. Jonathan Mounce, operations manager, said that Yadkin Valley Farms uses a variety of the shape described as “butterfly” or “snowflake,” which pops up fluffy and takes seasonings well. To make flavored popcorn, the company uses a large air popper which can pop 350 to 400 pounds of popcorn an hour. After popping, it’s tossed in soybean oil to add flavor and color, Jonathan says. Then flavor coatings are added. Yadkin Valley Farms’ most popular

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2021-12-TEC by Carolina Country - Issuu