Keeping Things Popping
Yoder Popcorn Has Flavor in Abundance
Writer / Lois Tomaszewski
Photographer / Kari Lipscomb
The first thing that happens when walking into Yoder Popcorn in Shipshewana is a warm greeting and the offer of a sample bag of freshly popped popcorn. Who says no to popcorn? Apparently not very many people, which is why this family-owned company has survived and thrived for generations.
Our sample is delicious and does not taste like any other popcorn, says Owner Allyse Yoder. Popcorn is a nice snack, easy to make and its fairly healthy.
Allyse and her husband Russ Yoder represent the fourth generation to run the popcorn business, and took over for Russs parents, Richard and Sharon, in 2018. In 2020, Russ and Allyse moved operations from the family farm southeast of the current location to a brand-new building on State Road 5. This new space houses several other businesses the couple owns, with Yoder Popcorn front and center.
Here, the shelves are stocked with varieties of popcorn, oils, seasonings, salts and popcorn poppers in a brand-new building that consolidates business operations and expands the retail space. The building is so massive that Russ stores his competition pulling tractor, a Minneapolis-Moline with the name Xtra Butter, in a corner of the popcorn store. It is an attention getter, both on the tractor-pulling circuit and for the customers who visit, Allyse says.
The Yoder Popcorn legacy began in 1936 with family patriarch Rufus Yoder. Mint was his cash crop. According to the family, it was Rufus Yoder who accidentally crossed two different varieties of mint, resulting in a new gum flavor for gum manufacturer Wrigley Company.
Rufus also grew popcorn on a much smaller scale and shared the excess with family, neighbors and friends. Yoder popcorn became known for its high quality, and the popcorn business was launched on the site of the farmstead where it all began.
Russ and Allyse farm 2,000 acres of land in the Shipshewana area. About 600 to 700 acres are planted in corn each year. All Yoder Popcorn is non-GMO.
Popcorn is a delicate crop, Russ says. Planting and harvesting times vary from other varieties of corn. It grows in shorter stalks and does not take the same amount of time to grow. When harvesting, care is taken to not damage the hull, which protects the kernels and traps in moisture.
It should be handled as little as possible, he says.
Popcorn pops because the water trapped inside the kernels explodes when it is heated to the right temperature. If that hard outer shell is compromised, the corn will not pop, Russ explains.
Different varieties of popcorn have different flavors, Allyse explains, and Yoder Popcorn offers several varieties. Yellow-kernel popcorn tends to have the strongest corn taste and white-kernel popcorn is milder. The red-kernel variety has a nutty taste, and blue-kernel popcorn tastes sweet. Another variety called ladyfinger has the smallest kernels and is almost completely hull-less. All of these are grown on Russ Yoders farm and stocked in the store.
The Yoders also produce a popcorn variety called Tiny Tender, which has small kernels and a mild taste. It has very little of the hard hull remaining, once popped.
In addition to the regular popcorn and microwaved varieties, Yoder Popcorn also has a selection of flavored popcorn. Caramel corn, white cheddar and yellow cheddar are available for purchase individually or blended together in the Try-Me-Mix bag.
There are multiple popcorn seasonings available, from butter, ranch, and salt-and-vinegar flavors to pizza, bacon and cheese, and hot jalapeño. A sprinkle on top of just-popped corn adds variety to the snacking experience. Buttery toppings and oils are also sold alongside the un-popped kernels and seasonings. Gift baskets and popcorn-themed novelties for popcorn-minded folks are also available in the store and online.
The store attracts a wide spectrum of customers, Allyse says. Some are tourists visiting Shipshewana, and others are passing through the area heading east or west on U.S. Highway 20. Others are returning customers.
We have had some of the same customers for decades, she says.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, customers still found their way to the store, Allyse says. The new building opened for business in the middle of the pandemic. In addition to a boost in online sales, foot traffic also increased because area businesses reopened sooner than in other places and many people were looking for somewhere to go.
Yoder Popcorn is also distributed to stores throughout the region, and online ordering is available. Orders are processed within a day or two most of the time, and are shipped year round.
The Yoders have also supplied popcorn for school events, concession stands, special events and weddings. Often a student will stop in before school to pick up a big bag of popcorn to share with their class.
Allyse and Russ credit their 10-person staff for the success of the family brand.
We have a good staff, she says. We couldnt do this without them.
Some of the couples five children help from time to time. Their children range in age from 17 to 2. Russ learned the popcorn business from his parents, just like their children are doing now.
Allyse says she knew nothing about popcorn until she married Russ. It was a lot to learn, she says, and one of the most important things she learned was to keep the customer happy. That was good advice because Yoder Popcorn has an appeal beyond the taste and quality of the corn.
People like the hometown feel of the store and our brand, Allyse says. People know us and we have plenty going on.
Yoder Popcorn is located at 920 North State Road 5 in Shipshewana. For more info, call 260-768-4051 or 800-892-2170, or visit yoderpopcorn.com.
