Giggle: Popcorn Hero
That Guy and Dearie smuggle organic popcorn into the theatre in full costume. Moviegoers are accustomed to overpaying for big ag popcorn cooked in seed oils, laced with human and bee toxic chemicals, covered in fake butter. So many are happy to line up and pay That Guy for organic popcorn salted with Himalayan salt. Meanwhile the theatre attendant sells no popcorn. And front row fans can’t see or hear the movie.
View All “That Guy” Toons at Culinary Cartoons
Gab: Pesticides & Popcorn
Approximately 90% of corn grown in the United States is genetically modified, yet there is currently no GMO popcorn variety on the market yet. But this does not mean that popcorn is not treated with pesticides. To avoid these chemicals, purchase USDA certified organic or to know thy farmer.
According to Center for Food Safety, “79 to 100 percent of corn seed in the U.S. is coated with neonics, and popcorn is no exception.” Approximately 40 insecticides are used as active chemicals on popcorn, including three bee-toxic neonic chemicals: clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid. “Despite the heavy use of seed coatings in agriculture, particularly on corn crops, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency do not consider seed coatings a pesticide application and therefore do not track their usage, leading to widespread, unmonitored contamination across the U.S.” And these chemicals also spread far beyond the plant coated in them to other crops, soil, and water.
The same big ag popcorn brands sold in movie theatres are likely found in your pantry. From microwavable kernel popcorn (the worst for your health) to bagged corn, the popcorn seed market is dominated by big ag brands. “Orville Redenbacher is ConAgra’s top-selling popcorn brand and is also America’s most recognizable brand. Orville Redenbacher is sold in over 30 movie theater chains—including AMC theaters, the second largest movie theater chain in the country,” Center for Food Safety.
Goods: Pure Popcorn
Recently when my guys headed to the theatre, I gave them a discreet brown bag filled with Lesser Evil’s Pink Salt Organic Popcorn. “If they ask what is in the bag, say, “groceries,” I advised. The popcorn is air popped without seed oils and contains only three ingredients: organic popcorn, extra-virgin coconut oil, and Himalayan pink salt. It most recently passed a quality test of four out of four in July 2025, by Lesser Labs. Lesser Evil also makes eight other organic flavors. Yet the popcorn does come in plastic bags. And as you all know I am at war with plastic. So, at home I prefer to pop my own on the stovetop.
The first time I ever had popcorn, Granny made it for me, and taught me how to sew the popped kernels together, creating a Christmas garland for the tree. This cedar tree was freshly cut on the outskirts of my grandparents’ farm, the day before. PowPaw took me on his tractor to pick out our tree. I stood back and watched as he cut it and hooked it to the tractor. And in his lap, I even helped steer the tractor back home. With memories like these who needs a microplastics producing air popper or microwave popcorn? Not me. When popping corn for our own home theatre, I pop my neighbor, Deborah Stone’s brand. Stone Hollow Farmstead Heirloom Popcorn comes in a variety of heirloom kernels.
Trying the different varieties is fun! Ladyfinger is the smallest pop, from an old open-pollinated variety. It is crumbly, hull free, and tender. Baby White Popcorn is also small and hull free. Its thinner, tender hull is easily digested. Purple Popcorn also pops small, with few hulls, and a nutty flavor. Traditional Yellow #2 Popcorn is medium in size, buttery in flavor, and crunchy in texture. It is the choice for those who want traditional popcorn, such as my family. Kev says it is the one! Red Heirloom Popcorn is a rare kernel that is almost hull free and pops up white. Blue Heirloom also pops white with a sweet flavor. Mushroom Popcorn is neutral in flavor, is the largest pop in a circular shape, such as a mushroom top, thus the name. Jumbo Popcorn requires high heat on the stovetop. It is large with a thin hull, neutral flavor, and pops crisp and tender. A nice choice for making your own caramel corn. Can’t decide? Try Rainbow Popcorn. A mix of heirloom quality popcorn kernels: Red, Blue, Traditional Yellow #2, and Baby White popcorn. And they offer Movie Night Trio or Heirloom Popcorn Gift Box, which make perfect gifts for movie lovers or for yourself. For even more variety, flavored salts and infused oils are also available.
Stovetop popcorn is inexpensive and easy. Another big advantage to stovetop popcorn is I can control the ingredients. I cook my popcorn in a heavy bottomed copper pot. The thick bottom keeps the kernels from burning. In the pot I add approximately one tablespoon of oil or tallow per quarter of a cup of popcorn. For smaller pops, such as Lady Finger I use organic coconut oil, for a light popcorn. And for bigger pops I cook in organic tallow for a savory popcorn. In a separate spouted pan, I melt Banner Butter and sprinkle a first harvest salt: Fleur de Sel from M. Giles Hervy into the butter. This gets the salt evenly distributed as it is poured over the popcorn. I lift the pot, lid and all, off the stove every 30 or so seconds and vigorously shake it to keep kernels from sticking un popped on the bottom. When the kernels slow down their popping and almost stop, I remove the pot from heat. And once the popping stops I carefully remove the lid and pour the salted butter over all or separate some for storing. The unbuttered popcorn also keeps well in non plastic bags. Finally, I divide into individual bowls. And we eat our popcorn warm and buttery.
Football season is also popcorn season. So, it is time to stock up! In addition to their website, Stone Hollow Farmstead offers their popcorns locally at FarmStand by Stone Hollow Farmstead, located at Pepper Place and in Homewood. - Jan Walsh
Photo credit to Jan Walsh’s CleanCooking.com coming January 1, 2026!
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