PA Food & Beverage

Published: August 28, 2019

Categories: kellyplanet | Learn Stuff
Tags: article | food and beverage | GO PA!

Many foods and beverages come from the Keystone State – GO PA! While local and regional considerations would make this list enormous, I’ve compiled entries that are known nationally, if not globally. Some of these are rather obvious, while other will make you say “That’s from PA?”

HERSHEY’S

Let’s start off with the most well-known PA product in the universe… Hershey was founded in 1894 at a site in Dauphin County. Today the Hershey Company is a global powerhouse that includes food conglomerates, a theme park, a school… and oh yeah – a whole town! Even the tribes of Northern Mongolia have heard of Hershey. I also happened to have been born there at the Hershey Medical Center.

REESE’S

Reese’s was founded in 1928 in Hershey, PA of all places. By 1963, Reese’s was absorbed by The Hershey Corporation and by 2017 has become the largest confection brand by astronomical margins. Reese’s products sell 62% more than the next largest brand in U.S. stores, making MARS and Nestlè look like chumps. For my Northern PA friends out there, “Reese’s” rhymes with “pieces”… not “species”.

YORK

Oh, the Hershey train just keeps on rolling. York Peppermint Patty was invented in 1940 in the town of… you guessed it: York, PA. After a few mergers, York Peppermint Patty became the property of Hershey when they bought out Cadbury Schweppes operations in 1988. I could go on an on about Hershey brands, but let’s do just one more.

TWIZZLERS

Pennsylvania didn’t INVENT licorice, but pretty darn close. Twizzlers is the most recognized name in licorice and has roots going back to 1845 in Lancaster, PA as the Y&S brand. Hershey knows a good thing when it sees it and so acquired Y&S and Twizzlers in 1977. The Guinness World Record length licorice twist is held at 1,200 feet by Lancaster, PA since 1998. Red Vines What? Go PA!

PEEPS

You know those marshmallow chick things that no one likes? Peeps are the Kandy Korn of Easter (though now available year round) and are made in only one place: Bethlehem, PA. Peeps have been mass produced by the Just Born company since 1953. Millions are sold every year, though have been said to be impervious to acetone, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide… yum.

WHOOPIE PIES

Scary Ol’ Maine (just read some Stephen King) has tried to claim the Whoopie Pie as their own. Going so far as to name it the Official Maine State Treat, they can only prove the dessert has been in Maine since 1925. It is likely that PA’s Amish, Pennsylvania Dutch, and German immigrants have been making Whoopie Pies far longer than that. Sorry Maine.

TASTYKAKE

Pennsylvanians sure love sweets. Originally starting in Pittsburgh, Tastykake was officially founded in Philadelphia in 1913. The famous Butterscotch Krimpet was introduced in 1927. Initially a regional company, Tastykake went public on the NYSE in 1961 and now their products are known worldwide.

YUENGLING

PA is no stranger to beer and is home to America’s Oldest Brewery. Yuengling has been in continuous operation in Pottsville, PA since 1829. Once only available regionally, Yuengling has expanded across the nation. PA has produced more breweries then I can list, but we will cover a total of four in chronological order.

STRAUB

Straub started brewing beer in 1872, making it America’s Third Oldest Brewery and the smallest pre-prohibition brewery still in operation. Located in the middle of nowhere in St. Mary’s, PA, the Straub Brewery is a popular tourist attraction as America’s Legacy Brewery. They were the last brewery to sell beer in returnable glass 16oz ‘pounder’ bottles.

ROLLING ROCK

Rolling Rock started brewing in Latrobe, PA in 1939. The Latrobe Brewing Company became famous for their glass-lined tanks and offering beer in ‘pony’ bottles. Many native Pennsylvanians still enjoy Rolling Rock, though the company was unfortunately sold to global conglomerate InBev and production left Latrobe in 2006.

TRÖEGS

One of PA’s newest breweries, Tröegs was founded in Harrisburg in 1996. Considered a craft brewery, Tröegs uses a regional marketing strategy once favored by brewery granddaddy Yuengling. With increased success, the Tröegs brewery has moved to Hersheypark Drive in Hershey, PA – just down the road from world-famous HersheyPark.

ARNOLD PALMER

Pennsylvania is known for non-beer beverages too. Although not technically produced in PA, the Arnold Palmer was invented by the golf legend of the same name. A native to PA, Palmer was from Latrobe – the home of Rolling Rock. A simple enough drink, the Arnold Palmer is approximately half lemonade and half iced tea.

HIRES ROOT BEER

Before Georgia had Coca-Cola, North Carolina had Pepsi, or the Texans got all excited about Dr. Pepper, a guy named Hires invented Root Beer in Philadelphia in 1875. He originally wanted to call it ‘root tea’, but figured ‘root beer’ would sell better to Pennsylvania coal miners. Root beer is basically made from sassafras. Sorry California, A&W wasn’t first.

STROMBOLI

One would assume Stromboli comes from Italy or Sicily and one would be incorrect. The stuffed pizza concoction was actually invented in a place called Essington, just outside of Philadelphia in 1950. Oddly enough, the name ‘Stromboli’ comes from an Ingrid Bergman movie. Like Maine, Washington state has tried to steal stromboli from PA, but that matter has been rendered moot.

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK

Unlike some foods, no one will argue that the Cheesesteak is Straight Outta PA. Properly known as the Philly Cheese Steak, it was invented in Philadelphia in the 1930’s by hot dog stand owners Pat and Harry Olivieri. Many variations have developed over the years, but anyone who has been to Pat’s King of Steaks knows what the score is.

MRS. T’S PIEROGIES

Pierogies have been around forever, but Mrs. T’s Pierogies are king. Although pierogies in the United States are commonly associated with Pittsburgh, the largest producer is Straight Outta Coal Country in Shenandoah, PA. Pierogies are most popular in the Rust Belt, New England and Canada.

LEBANON BOLOGNA

Everyone knows what balogna is, but PA has our own special variety. Lebanon Bologna has been produced in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country of Lebanon County, PA since the 1800’s. It comes in several varieties and beats the heck out of Oscar Meyer. The Seltzer family has been producing Lebanon Bologna since 1902.

MUSHROOMS

Pennsylvania is covered in farmland and produces things like corn, wheat, soy, etc. What most people don’t know is that PA is the king of Mushrooms. That’s right, Pennsylvania produces 70% of the mushrooms consumed in the United States. Whether you are munching mushrooms in Milwuakee or eatin’ ‘shrooms in Shreveport, chances are they came from PA. If you know what mushrooms grow in, you’ll understand those are the stinkiest places in the state.

BANANA SPLIT SUNDAE

Not satisfied with a typical little ice cream sundae, Pennsylvanian David Stickler invented the Banana Split in 1904. The mega-sundae comes from Latrobe, PA – also the home of Rolling Rock and the Arnold Palmer. The recipe became popular when it was published in 1907. Like Maine and Washington, the state of Ohio has tried to claim the Banana Split, probably because of Latrobe’s proximity to Ohio.

SNYDER’S OF HANOVER

Technically, the largest snack food company in the universe is Pepsi’s Frito-Lay from Plano, TX. PA gives them a run for their money with a company that acquired Chicago’s Jay’s Foods and merged with NC’s Lance Inc. to grow larger. Snyder’s of Hanover was founded in Hanover, PA in 1909 and makes more pretzels than anyone else. So much that Snyder’s was worth $4.9 billion to Campbell’s Soup in 2017.

UTZ

PA is the Chip and Pretzel Capital of the World. Utz was founded in 1921 in Hanover, PA and is now the largest independent privately held snack brand in the United States – to the tune of 2 million pounds of snacks a week. So large that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission blocked a merger with Snyder’s of Hanover in 2010. Apparently the FTC had no problem with Frito, Lay’s and Pepsi merging in 1965. Utz rhymes with ‘mutts’.

HERR’S

Make Herr’s yours. Herr’s is a snack food company specializing in potato chips founded in 1946 in Nottingham, PA. Also producing corn chips, tortilla chips and pretzels, Herr’s helps helps cement Pennsylvania’s place as the king of chips and pretzels globally.

MARTIN’S

One of PA’s smaller, but famous potato chip companies is Martin’s which was founded in Thomasville, PA in 1941. While a regionally distributed product, Martin’s chips were served on Air Force One to the President of United States during the terms of both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

MIDDLESWARTH

A favorite of native Pennsylvanians, Middleswarth Potato Chips was founded in 1942 in Beavertown, PA. It seems World War II was a hot time to start snack food companies. Although one of our smaller chip companies, Middleswarth produces 3,400 pounds of potato chips per hour at their current facility in Middleburg, PA.

TOM STURGIS PRETZELS

Rounding out our snack food section, Pennsylvania is home to the oldest commercial pretzel bakery in the United States. Sturgis Pretzels was founded in Lititz, PA in 1861. The company still bakes pretzels in their original building which was built in 1784 – a time when Texas and California belonged to Spain.

HEINZ

We’ll conclude our list with the company that makes PA The Condiment Capital. Heinz was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh. Heinz is the 5th largest food company in the world. 150 of their 1000’s of products are #1 or #2 brands globally. Most ketchup and frozen potatoes in the U.S. are made by Heinz. Six time Superbowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers hail from Heinz Field.

I hope you enjoyed the Food & Beverage Edition of GO PA! on kellyplanet.