Gutwein Popcorn

Gutweins Focus on Popped Perfection
Family produces top-quality popcorn

You know that feeling when every popcorn kernel emerges from the microwave or air popper as a fluffy white morsel with no remaining unpopped kernels?

That’s the goal of the family farmers behind Gutwein Popcorn in Francesville, Indiana.

“Popcorn quality can vary greatly depending on the hybrid planted, the growing season and how it is harvested,” Harvey Gutwein says. “If a popcorn kernel is scratched or otherwise damaged during harvest or processing, it lets the steam out and it won’t pop.”

Midwest weather is optimum for popcorn production, and the Gutweins focus on achieving popped perfection from planting through harvest.

Quality matters. If you don’t have good quality kernels and care, you won’t get the volume of popped corn,” Gutwein says. “Once our popcorn is harvested and transported to the grain bin, we immediately get it conditioned to the right moisture level. Doing that and keeping the kernels at the optimum moisture level with air flow are key to achieving a high-quality popping corn.”

Producing quality agricultural products has been the Gutwein family's legacy since 1906 when Harvey’s great grandfather established Gutwein Milling in Francesville, Indiana. His father and grandfather introduced Gutwein Hybrids in 1936 and Harvey established Gutwein Popcorn Co. in 1998.

“1998 was the first year we put popcorn in a bag with our name on it,” Harvey says. “Today, we produce popcorn on 9,000 acres annually.”

In 2014, Gutwein Popcorn added a new processing facility to expand its branded retail and wholesale popcorn offerings.

Today, a portion of the farm’s popcorn production goes to Gutwein Popcorn-branded products. The remainder of the farm’s production goes to packers or is shipped overseas for export sales.

Popcorn varieties grown on the farm are yellow butterfly, white butterfly and mushroom. Yellow butterfly popcorn is primarily packaged into microwaveable and conventional popping bags. Mushroom varieties are used for specialty popcorns, primarily caramel coated. White butterfly popcorn is polybagged for conventional or air popping.

Gutwein Popcorn markets its products to local consumers at its on-farm store, at local retail stores and through fundraisers for local schools and clubs. Popcorn aficionados can also purchase the popcorn online through the company’s website.

Products sold at the farm store include caramel popcorn and microwave popcorn in flavors such as butter, hot and spicy, kettle and cheese, and several sizes of ready-made gift baskets. The store also sells bulk white and yellow butterfly popcorn in 2- and 50-pound bags.

Harvey and his wife, Ellen, work with two of their sons and their wives on the day-to-day farm and popcorn plant operations. Son Lance manages the farming operations while his wife, Erica, is office manager. Son Tyler manages the popcorn plant and sales while his wife, Lacie, is quality manager for Gutwein Popcorn.

For more information, visit Gutwein Popcorn’s Facebook page or the website at gpopcorn.com.