Which States Grow the Most Popcorn?

• There's nothing like the smell of freshly popped popcorn -- unless it's the taste of it, buttered to suit. Snacking on it is a movie-going ritual, and microwaving a bag at home takes only two minutes. Purists make it on the stovetop. High in fiber, it's actually good for you, minus tons of butter. No wonder popcorn is a major agricultural product in the United States. The exact amount of popcorn farmed in each states varies from year to year, but here are some of the consistent top producers.

Nebraska

• According to the Federal Register, Nebraska took top honors in popcorn production in 2008. While Corn Belt states have always produced the bulk of the nation's popcorn, Nebraska's yields tend to be higher due to irrigation of the majority of its popcorn fields. In 2008, $966,515,120 worth of unpopped popcorn was sold in the country, 90 percent of which is intended for home consumption.

Indiana

• For 2008, Indiana was the runner-up in popcorn production. At Indiana's Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station, "Hybrid Popcorn Performance Trials" are conducted. More popcorn is consumed in the fall than any other time of year. Less popcorn is consumed in the summer months.

Illinois

• Taking third place in 2008, Illinois is home to the U.S. Popcorn Board. This non-profit organization, with funding provided by popcorn growers, "strives to raise the awareness of U.S. popcorn as a versatile, whole-grain snack via domestic and international marketing efforts." The U.S. produces most of the world's popcorn, and remains the largest market for the product. Annual consumption is equivalent to 52 quarts per year for every person in the U.S.

Ohio

• The fourth-place finisher for 2008, Ohio has a long history of popcorn production. According to the Toledo, Ohio-based Center for Innovative Food Technology, in 2006 contract prices in the state ranged from $12.50 a hundredweight (cwt or 100 pounds) to $15.25 cwt, depending on the variety of popcorn. Roughly 70 percent of popcorn is eaten at home, with the other 30 percent is consumed at venues such as sports stadiums, fairs, schools and, of course, at the movies.

Iowa

• Once the greatest popcorn producers in the United States, Iowa fell to fifth place by 2008. In the 1940s, before the advent of hybrid varieties, Iowa led the country when open-pollination was the primary growing method.

Other States

• Kentucky, Michigan, Kansas and Missouri also produce significant amounts of popcorn, according to the U.S. Popcorn Board.