Made in Pennsylvania: Kutztown Soda

In the world of Coke and Pepsi – small, craft soda and drink manufacturers haven’t stood a chance and they went out of business in droves throughout the 1900’s.  That began to change when consumers started looking for healthier and better tasting options in the 1990’s.  Companies like Snapple (now owned by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group), [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: Musselman’s Apple Juice

Musselman’s was started by (none other than) the Musselman family in Biglerviller, Pa…the heart of Pennsylvania’s apple growing region.  John Musselman started the company by purchasing the Biglerville Canning Company, but quickly expanded over the next 13 years to meet demand from Worldwar I.  At the time, quality canned goods were in high demand to feed [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: Gertrude Hawk Chocolates

Pennsylvania produces more confectionary products that any state in the country – while a large amount of  this comes out of Hershey, Pa - you will be pleasantly surprised that there are other well-known chocolatiers calling Pennsylvania home.  One of these well-known’s is Gertrude Hawk – based in Dunmore, Pa – a suburb on Scranton.  You’ve [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: Bluecoat American Dry Gin

Perhaps, this lousy economy has me thinking of ways to drown my sorrows.  I got so excited that I found a Pennsylvania made spirit in Bluecoat American Dry Gin that I ran out and bought a bottle and quickly made up a martini.  Perhaps,  I could have waiting until after lunch   
I jest…mostly anyway.  The truth [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: Twizzlers

Twizzlers was originally a product of Y&S Confectionary dating way back to 1845.  The company merged with several others and became the National Licorice company in 1902 and then was renamed back to Y&S in 1968 – finally, they were acquired by Hershey’s in 1968.  Twizzlers were not a traditional Hershey product for many years.  They [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: Peeps

Peeps – the marshmellowly, soft, chewy candy that Americans associate with Easter as much as the Easter Bunny is produced by Bethlehem’s own Just Born.  Just Born acquired the original producer of Peeps, Lancaster based Rodda Candy Company, in 1953.  Today – Just Born produces over 1 billion Peeps per year and sells the product [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: Ashers Chocolates

Asher’s Chocolate was started by a Canadian/Scottish immigrant in Center City Philadelphia in 1892.  The company located to the historic Germantown section and expanded their product line to include jams, jellies, ice cream, and a number of other treats.  Today – Ashers Chocolates is still being run by the Asher family – it has a [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: TastyKake

TastyKake is well-known in at least half of the State as the ultimate Pennsylvania company.  The company is as synomous with Philadelphia as cheesesteaks and pretzels.  TastyKake – known for its sweet, frosted cakes – was established in 1914.  The founder sold 280 cakes on his first day of business and over 3,000 in the first [...]

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Pennsylvania Wine: Chaddsford Winery

Chaddsford Winery, Pennsylvania’s largest and most acclaimed vineyard, is nestled in the picturesque Brandywine Valley in the outer reaches of the Philadelphia suburbs.  The winery produces European style wines - specializing in dry whites, including a decent Pinot Grigio.  Many of their wines place highly at international wine competitions.  Last year, the 2002 Merican received a silver metal at the [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: A-Treat Sodas

Since 1918, A-Treat Sodas has been making its original recipe for Pennsylvanians to enjoy.  The company was started by Joe Egizio, who expanded his traditional neighbor fountain soda shop to include bottled sodas.  The company is based in Allentown and carries over 16 different flavors.  The sodas are made from essential oils and is one of the [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania : Tröegs Brewing Company

Pennsylvanians love small companies who produce quality, hand-crafted products and Troegs is just one of those places.  The added benefit is that the product is beer – so, we’re biased.  Harrisburg, Pa based Troegs is one of the breweries that sprouted up during the microbrewery boom in the 1990’s and has continue to expand ever [...]

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Pennsylvania Beers: Victory Prima Pils

I was reading the latest edition of Forbes Life magazine…browsing through exotic, mainly European products, that I couldn’t possibly afford.  I was admiring a $10,000 oak table and a gallery of Chris Craft style wooden boats and…behold, on Page 50 to be precise, there was an article featuring Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown.  The article was [...]

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Made in Pennsylvania: SteaZ Sparkling Green Tea

Newtown, PA based Healthy Beverage Company burst on the scene in 2003 when it launched its SteaZ branded green-tea – organic ”sodas”.  The outfit prides itself on being certified as a “fair trade” company.  Many of the ingredients are from the jungles of South America – Ceylon green tea, Guayaki yerba mate extract, Sambazon acai juice and guarana [...]

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