Alabama: Wickles Pickles
Brothers Trey and Will Sims had an old family recipe and a dream. Along with partner Andy Anderson, they created Wickles Pickles, advertising them as “wickedly delicious pickles.” Customers can enjoy either the sweet option or the savory option.
Alaska: Hidden Valley Ranch
From the colds of Alaska comes Hidden Valley Ranch. Plumber Steve Henson was working in the state when he invented the ranch dressing and that evolved into Hidden Valley Ranch, the huge corporation which sells Alaskans their ranch products.
Arizona: Cold Stone Creamery
Arizona is hot, so you better believe they make good ice cream there. Donald and Susan Sutherland wanted to make fresh and delicious ice cream, so they would mix it on a frozen granite slab and throw in delicious fillings like fruit and candy pieces. That process made their ice cream famous all across America.
Arkansas: Jimmy Dean Sausage
Jimmy Dean did a lot with his life. He was a county music star and an actor, and he also was a standout in the world of sausages. He created the brand Jimmy Dean Sausage, and it’s still going strong today, especially in Arkansas.
California: Diamond Nuts
California grows a lot of walnuts, so of course some of them are used in the production of Diamond Nuts. The company is over a century old by this point, and it puts a lot of emphasis on quality and sustainability. They’re also non-GMO, which has made them even more popular.
Colorado: Silk
Silk dairy-free yogurt alternative is the most popular brand in Colorado. The company originally focused on soy before expanding into almond, oat, coconut, and yogurt products, and now millions of people by their healthy products.
Connecticut: Pepperidge Farm
Pepperidge Farm remembers. This brand, started in Connecticut by a woman named Margaret Rudkin, relies heavily on nostalgia to sell their products and it works. Rudkin actually first started baking bread for her son in 1937 – he was allergic to a lot of ingredients – and things evolved from there.
Delaware: Rapa Scrapple
If you don’t know what scrapple is, it has nothing to do with apples – it’s made from pork scraps and cornmeal, and was originally a very frugal dish. Now the family-owned company Rapa Scrapple has for generations made a fortune from selling it.
Florida: Fresh Del Monte
Fresh Del Monte Produce has its executive offices in Florida, so it’s hardly surprising that it should be the most famous food brand in the state. They’re one of the world’s biggest producers, marketers, and distributors of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Georgia: Coca-Cola
Coca-cola has a fascinating history. It was invented in 1886 by Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia, who wanted to use it as a cure for headaches. Instead, it turned into one of the most famous and iconic drink brands in the world.
Hawaii: Dole
In 1899 James Drummond Dole, a Harvard graduate, arrived in Hawaii with $1,000 and bought land in Wahiaw. By 1901 he had founded the Hawaiian Pineapple Company and began cultivating the fruit, and by 1927 the company had become Dole. The man himself went down in history as the Pineapple King.
Idaho: Ore-Ida
This company (named after Oregon and Idaho) advertises itself with the slogan “Potatoes done perfect” and it’s hard to disagree. They’re the people who invented Tater Tots, and as you can imagine that one invention made them very rich indeed.
Illinois: Twinkies
Twinkies may not be good for you, but they’re delicious, and they were invented in Illinois! They originally used banana cream in the sweet treats, but World War II caused a global shortage of bananas, so they switched to vanilla cream.
Indiana: Weaver Popcorn
Founded in 1928 by Ira E. Weaver in Van Buren, Indiana, Weaver Popcorn began as a small operation where Ira grew and delivered his own popcorn using a horse-drawn wagon. Obviously, things changed. Now, Weaver Popcorn is a massive brand.
Iowa: Blue Bunny Ice Cream
In 1913, Fred H. Wells, Jr. invested a mere $250 to purchase a milk distribution route in Le Mars, Iowa, thus marking the beginning of what would become Wells Enterprises, the maker of Blue Bunny Ice Cream. These days Le Mars is considered the ice cream capital of the world, and all of America loves Blue Bunny ice cream.
Kansas: Spicin
One for those people who like their food to hurt. Spicin (previously known as Original Juan) offers a diverse range of hot sauces catering to various heat tolerances and flavor preferences, but one of their offerings is called “Pain Is Good” which should say it all. Be careful!
Kentucky: Hot Pockets
Hot Pockets, the iconic microwavable snack, was created by Iranian Jewish brothers Paul and David Merage, who immigrated to the United States from Tehran in the early 1960s. We have them to thank for what became the most famous snack of Kentucky.
Louisiana: Tabasco
Edmund McIlhenny, a banker turned farmer, developed the original recipe for Tabasco sauce in 1868 using tabasco peppers grown on Avery Island, Louisiana. That mission put Avery Island on the map and made Tabasco sauce the most famous hot sauce in the world.
Maine: B&M Beans
George Burnham founded a food canning business in Portland, Maine. He was soon joined by Charles S. Morrill, and together they established Burnham & Morrill Company. But they didn’t have a hit, as it were, until they began selling baked beans. They were a huge success and became one of the most famous operations in Portland.
Maryland: McCormick
McCormick are the first name in delicious spices for your food. The company was founded in 1889 and is now famous the world over for those iconic red-capped spice jars. If you’ve ever bought spices, chances are they were made by McCormick.
Massachusetts: Ocean Spray
Ocean Spray got started in 1930 and grew from there to be the massive cranberry company that it is today. Over time, it expanded into other fruit products like grapefruit, blueberries, and cherries, but cranberries remain its signature and the thing people keep coming back for.
Michigan: Kellogg’s
Is there a more famous cereal company in the world than Kellogg’s? Probably not. The Kellogg brothers invented corn flakes mostly by mistake and clever marketing made them a breakfast staple. Now, Kellogg’s sell all kinds of breakfast foods, and people buy them every single day.
Minnesota: Spam
Jay Hormel wanted to create a convenient, affordable meat product that wouldn’t spoil without refrigeration. He succeeded! The result of his efforts was the famous Spam: a blend of ground pork and ham that could be eaten hot or cold.
Mississippi: Barq’s Root Beer
Barq’s Root Beer was developed in 1898 by Edward C. Barq, a French immigrant who ran a soda shop and bottling company in Biloxi. It was one of the first root beers to include caffeine, and that helped make it super popular.
Missouri: Kraft Mac and Cheese
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese was launched during the Great Depression, when cheap meals were desperately needed. Then during World War II, its popularity soared due to rationing. Times have changed, but it’s still popular today.
Montana: Cream of the West
Cream of the West comes from Montana and promotes a healthy, rustic way of life. Its simple ingredients and rich, nutty flavor set it apart from blander breakfast cereals, and so it lasted the test of time where others failed.
Nebraska: Kool-Aid
Kool-Aid admittedly has a bad reputation thanks to its connection to the Jonestown massacre, but Nebraskans love it. Kool-Aid is the official soft drink of Nebraska and the story of inventor Edwin E. Perkins is celebrated there. And even the bad connotations didn’t set the drink back too far – “drinking the Kool-Aid” jokes aside.
Nevada: Umpqua Oats
Yep, something as mild as oats came out of a place as wild as Las Vegas. The company was founded with a mission to reinvent boring instant oatmeal into something heartier, tastier, and more nutritious – and they succeeded. Umpqua Oats are really popular.
New Hampshire: Stonyfield Farm
Stonyfield Farm started with just seven cows and a passion for sustainability and health. They were one of the first US brands to go fully organic, and customers responded with the utmost enthusiasm. Now they’re one of the biggest companies in New Hampshire.
New Jersey: Hellmann’s
Whenever you think of mayonnaise, chances are you probably think of Hellmann’s. A man called Richard Hellmann hit upon the idea of selling the stuff in clear glass jars, and customers approved. The great taste didn’t hurt either.
New Mexico: Hatch Chile Company
Hatch chiles, named after the Hatch Valley in New Mexico where they are harvested, are some of the most famous chiles in the world. They’re celebrated for their rich, smoky taste and are a staple in Southwestern cuisine. People rave about the great taste and put them in all sorts of dishes.
New York: Boar’s Head
New York has a lot of food brands but Boar’s Head is arguably the most famous. It was founded in Brooklyn, all the way back in 1905 by a man named Frank A. Brunckhorst. These days, its premium meat pulls millions in for the company and is just one more thing New York is famous for.
North Carolina: Mt Olive Pickles
Mt Olive pickles are named for the place they came from. Established in 1926 in Mount Olive, North Carolina, the company has grown to become the largest privately held pickle producer in the United States. And according to the official company website, they’re also the favorite pickle brand in the country.
North Dakota: Cream of Wheat
Cream of Wheat was created in 1893 by wheat millers Tom Amidon and Thomas Rutledge in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The product was originally made to use up leftover wheat byproducts from flour milling – and customers just ate it up, literally.
Ohio: Smuckers
Smuckers is definitely the most famous brand to come out of Ohio. It’s another one with a long history – it began as a cider mill and homemade apple butter operation with products sold via horse-drawn wagon. But World War II, which came with rationing and food worries, helped turn it into a powerhouse.
Oklahoma: Nonni’s Foods
Nonni’s Foods are the brand behind La Dolce Vita and THINaddictive. Nonni means “grandmother” in Italian, and all the foods are things an Italian grandmother could create. They’re now one of the leading snack food brands in the US.
Oregon: Tillamook County Creamery Association
Tillamook County Creamery Association was made by ten local creameries pooling resources back in 1909. Their products include cheese, ice cream, yogurt, butter, cream cheese spreads, and sour cream, and they’re all of the highest quality standard.
Pennsylvania: Heinz Ketchup
Everyone loves delicious ketchup on their hot dogs or burgers, and it was invented in Pennsylvania! A man by the name of Henry J. Heinz came upon the idea of putting vinegar in tomato sauce and the result was the ketchup we know and love today. Now, there’s probably barely a home in America that doesn’t have a bottle of Heinz ketchup sitting in a cupboard somewhere.
Rhode Island: Glee Gum
People love Glee Gum for how environmentally friendly it is. It uses sustainably harvested chicle from Guatemala, combined with simple, natural ingredients and no artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives. The official Glee Gum website advertises themselves as making “healthy alternative to traditional chewing gum.”
South Carolina: Rice Krispies
Rice Krispies are sold the world over and are celebrated for their snap, crackle and pop. And the characters bearing those names were created by a South Carolinan man, Vernon Grant. He helped make Rice Krispies one of the biggest successes in the cereal world. Kids love them, and so do adults.
South Dakota: Bel Brands
Bel Brands are actually based in France, but they make their cheeses in South Dakota. And cheese lovers all over the world are very grateful that they do! They make Babybel cheese, which is wildly popular, as well as Laughing Cow cheese.
Tennessee: Benton’s
Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams are the most famous brand to come out of Tennessee – they got started in Madisonville. Their meats are prized across all of America for their distinctive smoky, savory taste. Not one for vegans – but a beloved slice of Americana all the same.
Texas: Frito Lay
In 1961, the companies The Frito Company and H.W. Lay & Company combined and we got Frito Lay. They gave the world delicious snacks such as Ruffles, Doritos and Cheetos, and everyone involved fast became very, very rich. You can pick up their products in just about any American store.
Utah: Post
Post cereals got their start in Salt Lake City, and soon spread across the entire United States. They produce kids’ favorites like Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles, and there’s probably scarcely a person in America who hasn’t tried a Post cereal at some point.
Vermont: Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s is the most famous brand to come out of Vermont. Their ice cream is legendary, and their story of two friends coming together to make ice cream resonates with a lot of people. Some of the most beloved flavors include Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Phish Food, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. People like to eat it while visiting the cinema, or while alone on the couch watching TV.
Virginia: Smithfield
The town of Smithfield had been famed for its salted country hams since the late 1700s - so much that in 1926, Virginia law mandated that only hams processed within town limits could be labeled "Smithfield Ham".
Washington: Starbucks
Starbucks started in 1971 and soon took off to become one of the most famous brands in the world. People stop off at a Starbucks café on their way to work and treat themselves to a coffee, or relax in the shop and talk to people.
West Virginia: Ziegenfelder
Ziegenfelder own the Sonic Drive-In popsicle brand, and those things are sold all over America. They come in flavors including Cherry Limeade, Strawberry, and Ocean Water, and kids love to eat them on hot summer days.
Wisconsin: Swiss Miss
Swiss Miss originated from a Wisconsin dairy company called American Dairy Corporation, founded in the 1950s. The company began by supplying powdered milk to airlines and restaurants – but their products became so popular they soon needed to put out a retail version as well.
Wyoming: Wyoming Gourmet Beef
Wyoming Gourmet Beef is a passion project from a guy named David Fales. He created the beef jerky to honor the people of Wyoming, and to say it took off would be an understatement. It’s a small company that ships products to all across America.
