Popcorn became Illinois’s official state snack food after an elementary school project.
The project was carried out by second- and third-grade students at Cunningham Elementary School in Joliet, with teacher Fran Hollister. Their effort inspired legislation, and the Illinois General Assembly officially designated popcorn the state snack food in 2003. The law took effect on January 1, 2004.
Popcorn is a fitting choice for Illinois because the state has long been an important corn-growing region, and popcorn is a distinctive type of corn whose kernels contain a small amount of moisture sealed inside hard starch. When heated, that moisture becomes steam, pressure builds, and the kernel turns inside out as it pops.
A common mix-up is confusing popcorn with Illinois’s state vegetable: sweet corn holds that separate designation. Popcorn is also not the same as ordinary field corn used for livestock or industrial products. Its special kernel structure allows it to expand dramatically when heated, making it suitable for popping rather than milling.