It is that time of year again, when the tricolor pyramid of sugar, mellowcreme and wax makes its grand return. For some, it’s a reason to look forward to the fall season, right up there with pumpkin-spiced treats. For others, it tastes suspiciously like sweetened crayons.
Where do Utahns stand? They can’t seem to get enough.
Utah, the home of soda shops on every corner and the infamous cookie wars, now has another claim to sweet fame: It’s the No. 1 purchaser of candy corn in the country, according to a study released by candy brand Brach’s.
Don’t believe it? New data shows that Utah ranks among the top three candy corn-loving states in the nation, taking the top spot right alongside Iowa and Kansas. The ranking, based on candy corn purchases per 1,000 households in 2024, also includes Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Michigan, Colorado, Oklahoma and Minnesota in the top 10.
While candy corn may be controversial, it’s also tied to America’s farming roots. Four of the top candy corn–loving states — Iowa, Indiana, Kansas and Missouri — are also among the nation’s leading corn producers, according to a report released by Brach’s. Coincidence? Maybe. But it seems the Corn Belt has a sweet spot for corn in every form.
The Midwest as a whole dominates the candy corn rankings, with six states in the region cracking the top 10. Utah, however, is the outlier — a Western state that brings in big numbers for candy corn season.
Where did candy corn come from?
The love-it-or-hate-it treat has been around for more than a century. The origins of candy corn date back to the 1880s, when candy companies began experimenting with mellowcreme, molding it into shapes like pumpkins, chestnuts and turnips to appeal to farm-country kids, per History.
George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company in Philadelphia is credited with inventing the tri-colored kernels, and Wunderle was the first company to sell them. Today, Brach’s is the main producer, with more than 35 million pounds of the candy being sold each year, according to the National Confectioners Association.
Whether Utahns eat it, decorate with it or simply buy it out of tradition, they’re leading the charge in keeping candy corn alive and well.