June is National Candy Month

June is National Candy Month and I think everyone at least once in their life time has had some sort of candy! It is amazing to stop and think how big the candy industry is world wide. It is even more amazing to see how candy has become integrated in celebrations and holidays. Candy has been a favorite for many children and often it is still used as a treat for children today.

I have a lot of good memories that involve candy which may sound silly but stop for a moment and think carefully. When I was growing up there was penny candy and I would spend a good half an hour in the store making my sections carefully and I looked forward to Saturdays because of our family trip to the general store. We did not have a lot of money growing up so penny candy was a privilege and treat. Candy was also a great motivator for us to get our chores done! I hear about families using candy to potty train children or get them to do well in school. It is amazing to think that sugar has such a hold on people.

Candy is basically sugar and water; which really isn't the healthiest combo but it is yummy. Candy makers dissolve sugar in water using different temperatures; depending on what the temperature is will determine what kind of candy is made. Hot temperatures make hard candy like candy canes; medium heat will make soft candy like taffy, and cool temperatures will make chewy candy like sugar daddies. Of course they are ingredients added like flavoring, coloring and preservatives but the main ingredient is sugar.

Almost 60 percent of American candy brands have been around for more then 50 years. That is amazing! I have a feeling the candy industry will have no problem being around for another 50 years. I think that speaks volumes of how integrated candy has become in our society.

Very few holidays in the United States do not have candy to accompany them. For example Peeps (colored sugar covered marshmallow) have Peeps for even the Fourth of July. When I was growing up candy was for Easter, Valentines Day, Halloween and Christmas. Halloween is the holiday that still has the highest candy sales, followed by Easter, Christmas and Valentines Day.

There are icons still around today, candy legends I call them. For example the cute little owl who would say. "One. Two...Three...Crunch..." How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie role pop?