These Beloved Snack Brands All Hail From Pennsylvania - How Many Do You Recognize? - Tasting Table

"Pennsylvania may be known as the birthplace of the Constitution, but it's also the birthplace of many of the country's favorite snacks. Among the state's claims to fame, it's largely considered to be the Potato Chip Capital of the World, the Pretzel Capital of the World, and, not surprisingly, the Snack Capital of the World. Of course, one name probably comes to mind when you think of Pennsylvania-made snacks - Hershey's (did we mention Pennsylvania is also considered the Chocolate Capital of the U.S.?)"

"The brand has melted into the very identity of the state - the town of Hershey is named for the company, not the other way around, for goodness' sake - and now houses over 70 brands under its umbrella. Just like chocolate, pretzels are also deeply intertwined with Pennsylvania, going back to its German roots. It is also home to more potato chip companies than anywhere else in the country."

"What's more, the lion's share of these snack producers are neighbors, located in the adjacent counties of Lancaster, York, Berks, and Dauphin in the southeast corner of the state. It's staggering how many snack foods have ties to Pennsylvania. And while many may be more connected by association than origin, dozens of brands were born from its fertile soil, booming food production industry, and entrepreneurial families."

"York Peppermint Patties got their name from their hometown of York, Pennsylvania. The York Cone Company got its start making ice cream cones back in the 1920s. But its owner, Henry C. Kessler, couldn't shake his obsession with creating a perfectly crisp chocolate-and-peppermint candy. York Cone Company was acquired by Peter Paul in 1972, which merged with Cadbury Schweppes in 1978, which was then acquired by Hershey's in 1988."

Pennsylvania is widely associated with snack production, including being considered the Potato Chip Capital of the World, the Pretzel Capital of the World, and the Snack Capital of the World. Hershey’s is closely tied to the state’s identity, with the town of Hershey named for the company and the company housing more than 70 brands. Pretzels connect to Pennsylvania’s German roots, and the state has more potato chip companies than anywhere else in the country. Many snack producers are located in nearby southeastern counties such as Lancaster, York, Berks, and Dauphin. Several well-known brands trace their origins to Pennsylvania’s food industry and entrepreneurial families, including York Peppermint Patties, which began in York, Pennsylvania, and later became part of a chain of acquisitions ending with Hershey’s.

Read at Tasting Table