Enjoy Townsend's pure, natural popcorn snacks
Culinary Neighbours
From Port Rowan Good News - by Bob McClellandA locally grown snack food, natural popping corn, is quietly growing on a farm outside Walsingham.
In 1985, Blair Townsend's late father, Robert and three other tobacco farmers decided to partially diversify into another cash crop and began growing food grade popping corn.
As almost the entire Canadian consumption of popping corn comes from American sources, they were truly pioneers. His son, Blair and wife Livia acquired the assets in 1988, which today is known as Ontario Popping Corn Company.
The product is simple: plain popping corn kernels, grown on up to 50 acres of their farms off Regional Road #60. Today they offer white hull-less along with the traditional yellow, which has hulls. At Christmas, Strawberry Red is offered as a seasonal variety. Other coloured varieties are currently being tested. In finished, ready-to-eat products, they offer caramel-glazed popping corn, pink elephant candy corn and Christmas Mix - a combination of salty and sweet popped corn.
Popping corn is best made in a Micro Popper, a $14.95 retail item, which is a specially-designed, hard-plastic container that produces 12 cups of popped corn from half a cup of raw popping corn. No oil, no salt, just plain popping corn in the micro popper.
To offer variety and to compete with the potato chip market, they offer five seasonings: barbecue, dill pickle, salt & vinegar, sour cream & onion and white cheddar. These are high quality, almost sugarless flavourings that come in shakers from 57-85 grams and are sold separately from $2.99-$4.OO.
Livia Townsend says the way to get the best popping corn is to put a half cup of raw kernels in the micro popper, microwave it for 3-4 minutes on high, melt 2 tablespoons of soya margarine and drizzle it over the popped corn and then add your favourite seasoning.
Today, the Mass-market uses microwave paper bags for home made popcorn. But it has two big disadvantages. As it all comes from the U.S, it must be fumigated to comply with Agriculture Canada's regulations. Also, there is evidence that microscopic paper fibers from the bag liner migrate into the popped corn during the time the bag is in the microwave.
For those customers who are looking for chemical-free popping corn, free of salts and saturated fats, Ontario Popping Corn offers naturally grown, plain popping corn kernels that are essentially a "back to basics" initiative.
Popping corn is sold under the "Uncle Bob's" brand name and is available in plastic bags. White hull-less comes in 500 gram and 907-gram bags, traditional yellow comes in 900-gram bags and the Christmas specialty, Ruby Red, is in 250-gram bags.
Local merchants have provided essential retail support. Uncle Bob's brand popping corn and seasonings are available at Wiggins Supermarket in Port Rowan, Kernel's Peanuts in Vittoria, Picards all locations, IGA in Port Dover, the Norfolk Apple Growers Retail Store on Highway #3 in Simcoe, Coward's Pharmacy in Tillsonburg, Dewaele's Foodland Store in Langton, Sobeys in Tillsonburg and Atkinson's Walsingham Market.
Scouts Canada as well as other organizations and schools have used Uncle Bob's Brand Popping Corn for fundraisers. The firm has its own Web site at www.ontariopoppingcorn.com
When thousands of summer visitors come to enjoy the glorious Lake Erie beaches, they can also enjoy pure, natural snacks from popping corn quietly grown up the road. Ontario Popping Corn Co. of Walsingham is truly our culinary neighbour!
Vapour from microwave popcorn being studied; possible link to lung disease
From The Associated Press - Connie Farrow
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is studying the chemicals released
inti the air when a bag of microwave popcorn is popped or opened. Exposure
to vapours from butter flavouring in microwave popcorn has been linked
to a rare lung disease contracted by factory workers in Missouri, Illinois,
Iowa and Nebraska, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health has said it suspects the chemical diacetyl causesd the illnesses.
However, health officials insist people who microwave popcorn and eat
it at home are not in danger. In the first direct study of chemicals
contained in the popular snack foor, the EPA is examining the type from
microwave popcorn bags. Further research would be needed to determine
any health effects of those chemicals and whether consumers are at risk,
said Jacky Rosati, a scientist involved in the study, which is being
conducted at the EPA's Indoor Environment Management Branch at Research
Triangle Park, N.C., "Once we know what chemicals are and the amounts,
somebody else can look at the health effects," Rosati said Wednesday.
About 50 brands, batches and flavors of microwave popcorn from buttery
to sugary sweet kettle corn are being tested, she said.
Popcorns's hot, in more ways than one !
Toronto Star - December 2003
When trans fat hit the news in November, microwave popcorn rated near the top of every list of foods containing the dreaded hydrogenated fat -- right up there with our favourite cookies, crackers and potato chips.Couple finds their niche in popcorn market
Hull-less variety is friendly on teeth
From The Simcoe Reformer - by Michelle Ruby A Walsingham couple has found a way to eliminate popcorn's
most irritating quality - kernels.
Blair and Livia Townsend, owners and operators of the Ontario
Popping Corn Company produce a variety of hull-less white popcorn (in
addition to the traditional yellow variety) that won't have you picking
at your teeth for hours afterward.
"It doesn't get caught in the teeth or under dentures. That's the really annoying thing for people about popcorn"
"When people try white they really enjoy it'" Livia said. "There is
no skin. It doesn't get caught in the teeth or under dentures. That's
the really annoying thing for people about popcorn."
The Townsends bought into the popcorn business in 1988. The
operation was established by a group of four tobacco farmers in 1985
who were looking for an alternative crop.
Blair had been managing the operation for them and saw potential
for the business with a single owner.
Last year the Townsends grew 3.2 hectares of popcorn, this
year expanding it to 6.8 hectares. They are also experimenting with different
varieties on another 1.2 hectares.
Blair said there are thousands of varieties of popcorn -
some with stronger, shorter stocks, some with weaker stocks, others varied
consistencies and uniformity.
Blair calls the white variety "their baby" and the couple are banking
on it becoming a popular favorite.
"
We're trying to get it more known. It gives us a niche in
the industry. A lot of people won't produce it because it's difficult
to grow."
Because the white popcorn grows on a weak stock, it cannot
be left in the field to dry. When it matures around mid-October, Blair
picks it and drys it in the bulk kilns he uses for his 21 hectare tobacco
operation.
A precise moisture content is crucial to making the kernels
pop.
The Townsends have faith in the popcorn business but have
chosen to expand slowly and cautiously. They are planning another small
expansion in the near future. For now Blair says popcorn is fun and provides
a diversion from his other farming responsibilities.
Uncle Bob's Popping Corn
Producers - Ont Popping Corn Co.
RR#1 Walsingham Ontario Canada N0E 1X0
E-mail: ontpop@kwic.com
Phone: 519-586-3723
Fax: 519-586-2913
