Tiny But Mighty Popcorn

Type: Producer

Produces: Popcorn

Location: Shellsburg, IA

Miles from Coop: 17

This is the most flavorful popcorn we’ve tasted – and its hulls explode so they don’t get stuck in your teeth.

As the story goes, the Kelty family either found their tiny popcorn: “growing wild, or traded Native Americans for it,” Gene Mealhow explains, and passed it down from generation to generation. During WWII, their yearly planting got forgotten, and a paltry handful of kernels found in a pantry jar rescued it from extinction.

Get the whole scoop about our visit to their farm here.

farmer-gene_tiny-but-mighty-popcorn_sm.jpg

Products available in store and online. Limited selection online.
 

Other Local Producers

Be sure to check out these others great local producers!

Scream Frozen Desserts

Scream Frozen Desserts

When the pandemic had everyday life restricted, Kate Vigmostad began envisioning an ice cream brand to spark joy and humor while keeping a small carbon footprint with local ingredients.

Fairfield, IA

Cortado

Cortado

People would say, ‘Show me what you can do,’ and I would make them a Cortado. The balance of it is great.

Iowa City, IA

Trowel and Error Farm

Trowel and Error Farm

Carly Andrews was inspired to start farming after attending The University of Vermont, and learning about the local foods movement. After seeing a panel of all women farmers in her undergrad, she decided to try it out for herself.

Iowa City, IA

Larry Schultz Organic Farm

Larry Schultz Organic Farm

“They have that old-fashioned flavor, the way turkeys used to taste. I think you’ll agree there isn’t a more tasty bird around!”

Owatonna, MN

Kerns Homegrown

Kerns Homegrown

Our local source for non-GMO sweet corn! In 1999, at the age of 15, Blake Kerns rented two acres of abandoned crop land, borrowed a planter, and seeded sweet corn. Twenty years later he's still planting, picking, and delivering fresh picked homegrown produce.

Oelwein, IA

Seed Savers Exchange

Seed Savers Exchange

Seed Savers formed a network of gardeners interested in preserving heirloom varieties and sharing seeds.

Decorah, IA

Maestro Empanadas

Maestro Empanadas

When Christian Bejarano and Marta Hamity moved to Iowa from Argentina, they had trouble finding their favorite food: the empanada. They got cooking and quickly earned a cult following.

Coralville, IA

Hedge Apple Kombucha

Hedge Apple Kombucha

Lindsey and Kyle operate their kombucha micro-brewery with sustainability and harmony with the land in mind. Using locally sourced medicinal plants, they aim to celebrate 1-2 ingredients in their recipes.

Fairfield, IA