State of Cornfusion: Popcorn seller fills farmers market with flavor
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years 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.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Endless battle
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BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
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