State of Cornfusion: Popcorn seller fills farmers market with flavor
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years, 8 months AGO
Joel Martin/Columbia Basin Herald Debbie Doran-Martinez scoops out a helping of Rainbow Fruit popcorn at the Moses Lake Farmers Market.
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | October 3, 2018 3:00 AM
MOSES LAKE — This is not, as the saying goes, your father’s popcorn. Unless your father was into flavors like Dill Pickle, Sweet Lime Habanero and Strawberry Lemonade.
These and 40-some more flavors are the stock in trade of Cornfusion, which you can usually find at the Moses Lake and Quincy farmers markets.
“We typically take to market about 10 flavors every week,” said Debbie Doran-Martinez, who owns Cornfusion. “We rotate them through. There are some, the basics, you know, Cheddar, Rainbow Fruit, we take those every single week. Then there are some that are requested all the time that we take every other week. Then there are some flavors that we just maybe bring once or twice. ”
Cornfusion is a “side gig” for Doran-Martinez, who is also the executive director of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband Alex bought it a couple of years ago and “we’ve been making lots of popcorn ever since.”
The business is a family operation, Doran-Martinez said, and they try to involve their grandchildren in particular. “It gives them a work ethic and customer service skills, money handling, all of that. So we make it not only a family fun business, but also they’re learning skills for life.”
The corn is popped and flavored in a specially-refitted shop at Doran-Martinez’ home. It’s licensed with the Washington Department of Agriculture, which means the family can produce the stuff, sell it on the internet and ship it to out-of-area buyers. This particular license also enables Cornfusion to sell wholesale to other retailers.
The flavors themselves are as real as they are varied, Doran-Martinez said. When she spoke with the Herald, she and her family had just finished making Maple Bacon and had segued into Almond Joy, which actually has coconut and almonds in it and is drizzled with dark chocolate.
“It’s crazy how the different flavors are so true to what their names are. We have one called Red Hot Cinnamon, and it tastes like cinnamon bears. We have one called Iced Cinnamon Bun, and it tastes like a Cinnabon cinnamon roll.” All the flavors are gluten-free, she added, with the exception of Buffalo Wing Blue Cheese. There’s even a seasonal one for Christmas time called Elf Crunch, which is presumably not made from real elves.
Currently besides the booths at the farmers markets, Cornfusion is available at a Michael’s Market and Bistro and Second Time Silver in Moses Lake, as well as two places in Pendleton, Ore. If everything goes right, she says, she’s hoping to expand that to include Yakima, Wenatchee and even Seattle. “That’s if I can ever get a break from making popcorn,” she said.
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ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Newhouse reintroduces Farm Workforce Modernization Act
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Loans, grants help a new generation of farmers take the field
SPOKANE VALLEY — As many as a third of farmers in the United States are over the age of 65, according to a study by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Farm Financial Management. Many of these have family members to pass their farms on to, but in order for American agriculture to continue, a new generation of farmers is needed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has assistance available for beginning farmers or those who are returning to the field after an absence, according to an announcement from the USDA. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency offers farm ownership and farm operating loans to farmers and ranchers who have trouble obtaining commercial credit from a bank, according to the announcement. “Farming and ranching is a capital-intensive business and FSA is committed to helping producers start and maintain their agricultural operations,” Geremy Nelson, FSA Acting State Executive Director in Washington, wrote in the announcement. “FSA loans are designed to make sure that everyone has access to credit. Last year, FSA in Washington obligated $32.9 million in loans to beginning farmers and ranchers.”
Boys & Girls Club to offer free summer meals
MOSES LAKE — The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin will be offering breakfast and lunch for children again this summer. And this time, they’re offering it in more places. “We’re doubling our location sites,” said Cecily Hendricks, director of operations for the club. Breakfast and lunch will be served at the McGraw Clubhouse and North and Midway elementary schools, according to an announcement from the club. Lunch only will be served at Lakeview, Maple Grove and Doolittle parks. They’re free to any child 2-18 years old; there’s no need to be a Club member, the announcement said. Parents can pick up meals for their children by filling out a form. Because Moses Lake qualifies as rural, the meals don’t have to be eaten onsite.