Kuna Gold Popcorn
What started out as a novelty has exploded into a booming side business for popcorn partners Vogel Farms and Cabalo’s Orchard and Gardens in Kuna. Since 2006, Ed Vogel, “the corn growing master” and his wife, Debi, have been planting yellow popcorn while Chan and Cathy Cabalo have been testing colored varieties.
Kuna Gold is the most popular blend, consisting of two varieties of non-GMO yellow popcorn. Popcorn—a different type of corn than sweet corn cultivated for cob-eating or field corn raised for feed grain and corn syrup—has a harder, moisture-resistant shell (or hull) that, when heated, builds up vapors inside the shell until it pops. When Kuna Gold pops, one variety is shaped like a mushroom, the other like a butterfly. The flavor is amazing and it actually tastes like corn. “It’s not just a bowl of air fluff with butter on it,” described Cathy Cabalo. The two families believe the intense flavor is a result of southern Idaho’s long summer days and cool summer nights.
Calico Blend marries the two Kuna Gold yellow kernels with multi-colored, heritage popcorn varieties including its namesake, Calico, plus Strawberry, Rose and Dakota Black. Dakota Black has the deepest, richest corn flavor and the Strawberry possesses a phenomenal crispy texture. Though the colored popcorn doesn’t fluff as much as the yellow, when blended together “it’s like eating trail mix,” said Cabalo.
Due to high demand, the Vogels and Cabalos doubled production this year to four acres of the yellow varieties and a halfacre of the colored. The kernels are harvested in late fall then dried for months before they’re removed from the cob. While popcorn lovers wait until 2015 for this year’s production, there might be some 2014 available directly from Vogel Farms Country Market or Cabalo’s Orchard. It can also be found at Atkinson’s Markets, Idaho’s Bounty and Idaho Indoor Farmers Community Market in Garden City. For the more adventurous, try Calico Blend in the “Bacon and Sage Popcorn” appetizer at Bittercreek Alehouse and Red Feather Lounge in Boise.
Vogel Farms
Cabalo’s Orchard and Gardens
Kuna Gold
Atkinson’s Markets
Idaho’s Bounty | @idahobounty
Idaho Indoor Farmers Community Market
Bittercreek Alehouse and Red Feather Lounge | @bittercreekalehouse | @redfeatherlounge
