At the end of February, residents of Charleston, South Charleston and the surrounding area celebrated the emerging popcorn industry during the Great West Virginia J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works Pop-Off.
Five area farms prepared a total of seven batches of popcorn while people gathered around tables at the Charleston Civic Center's Great Hall to sample the freshly popped kernels.
After sampling the popcorn, people were able to vote on their favorite. The goal of the Pop Off is to bring attention not only to the small farms who are producing popcorn, but also to encourage more farmers to grow and sell the crop. The program leader for the West Virginia University Extension Service Small Farm Center, Tom McConnell, expressed surprise regarding how few producers of poto the Charleston Gazette.
He noted that popcorn is less expensive to grow than other types of corn, and is sold by the pound, making it a profitable crop. It is also a crop that can be sold during the winter, when fresh vegetables and fruits are scarce. The Small Farm Center might consider using Flyers or Brochures to educate more farmers about the benefits of growing popcorn.
The winner of this year's Pop Off was Rhonda Dortch, from Bluestone Mountain Farm. Dortch prepared a variety dubbed ‘Grandpa Sherman Hulless Popcorn’, which was praised by tasters for its flavor.Get a Free Quote for Flyers Get a Free Quote for Brochures
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