Latest news with #FrankFarry
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hershey's Kiss makes bid to become Pennsylvania's official state candy
In a state with no shortage of candy makers and consumers, does one confection reign supreme? Pennsylvania lawmakers have announced in a memo that they will introduce legislation giving the commonwealth its own official candy: the Hershey's Kiss. According to the memo, the project started with a student initiative by children in Bucks County. 'Pennsylvania is home to a wealth of candies and treats that we all enjoy, and everyone has their personal favorite,' read the memo, launched by state Sen. Frank Farry, R-Langhorne. 'After researching and considering various options, the students selected Hershey's Kisses because of the iconic shape recognizable around the world and uniquely associated with Pennsylvania. The students chose a candy that represents many industries and values important to Pennsylvania's past, present, and future.' The law would make the Hershey's Kiss a 'first-in-the-nation' state candy, according to the memo, in hopes that it will 'promote Pennsylvania as a great place to do business, visit, and enjoy delicious treats,' adding that the positive attention received by creating a state candy 'would create opportunities for all of Pennsylvania's confection and snack companies to partner to promote statewide tourism,' such as through a 'Sweet & Salty Trail.' Pennsylvania already hosts several popular sweet foods trails, including 'Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail,' and 'Tapped: A Maple Trail.' Valerie Schultz, the proprietor of Ballyhoo Candy Counter, says it's no surprise that the Hershey's Kiss could be the first official candy of Pennsylvania. 'I'm not surprised they want to make it the state chocolate, because it is everywhere,' she said, adding that her store doesn't sell Kisses, because of how easy they are to acquire, but sells other Hershey's products. 'We sell a lot of regular plain Hershey bars,' Schultz said, noting her store focuses on carrying 'unique' candies, as well as nostalgic selections. 'You can get Hershey's Kisses everywhere,' she said. While she wouldn't confess to Kisses being her personal favorite, she can't contest their popularity, even for her own tastebuds, when asked if she'd eat a Kiss if someone handed her one. 'I would absolutely put it in my mouth; yes, I would eat it,' she admitted. 'Who doesn't love Hershey's Kisses? The brainchild of Milton Hershey's 130-year-old Pennsylvania-based business, Hershey's Kisses hit the market in 1907. Today, they are 'sold and enjoyed around the world,' the upcoming bill's memo explained, with up to 70 million manufactured in the state every day, using 'fresh fluid milk' that is shipped to the production plant in Hershey on a daily basis, and bringing in upward of 3.2 million visitors a year to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has the second largest number of dairy farms in the U.S., and is ranked eighth in milk production nationally, according to
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania could soon have an official state candy — thanks to a group of students
(WTAJ) — Pennsylvania has a state bird, state tree, state song and soon — thanks to some students — it could have an official state candy. Joining official state icons such as the Ruffed Grouse (state bird), Eastern hemlock (state tree) and 'Pennsylvania' (state song) would be the Hershey Kiss as the official candy of Pennsylvania. Lawmakers plan to introduce legislation that would name the iconic flat-bottom teardrop-shaped chocolate as our official candy. The bill will be introduced by Senators Frank Farry (R-Bucks County), Patty Kim (D-Dauphin County) and Steven J. Santarsiero (D-Bucks County). In the memorandum, Farry said the bill was drafted by dedicated students in Buck County and he's proud to introduce the legislation. If passed and signed into law, Pennsylvania would become the first in the nation to have a state candy. 'Pennsylvania is home to a wealth of candies and treats that we all enjoy, and everyone has their personal favorite,' Farry wrote. 'After researching and considering various options, the students selected Hershey's Kisses because of the iconic shape recognizable around the world and uniquely associated with Pennsylvania. The students chose a candy that represents many industries and values important to Pennsylvania's past, present, and future, including agriculture, manufacturing, steel and aluminum, innovative entrepreneurship, commerce, community and economic development, and philanthropy.' Farry added he's proud to partner with colleagues from across the aisle and all around the Commonwealth to make this happen. When Milton Hershey began building his chocolate empire, he had a factory, buildings, and homes for workers before he even had a chocolate recipe, according to History Channel's 'The Food That Built America.' Hershey, however, was undeterred and has become one of the biggest chocolate makers in the of the world, Pennsylvania can also tout that more potato chips come from the commonwealth than anywhere else in the world. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
