Shallowford Farms Popcorn Factory

Shallowford Farms produces a variety of Yadkin Valley Popcorn flavors for locals and beyond

By Ann Piccininni

Acres and acres of corn stalks stand tall in Yadkinville each year during the growing season. Many of these crops are planted, tended and raised to produce a snack favorite perfected by Shallowford Farms: Yadkin Valley Popcorn.

In all, the farm, at 3732 Hartman Road in Yadkinville, produces eight varieties of popcorn available at retailers throughout the area and beyond, including at Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Winston-Salem-based Lowes Foods, Food City and several independent food retailers.

“Our largest client is Food Lion, which is headquartered in Salisbury, North Carolina,” said Jonathan Mounce, operations manager at Shallowford Farms. Mounce said Food Lion distributes the farm’s products from Delaware all the way south to Florida. Shallowford also works with Merchants Distributors, Inc., a Hickory, North Carolina-based wholesale distributor.

Mounce said the farm, in business since 1987, maintains about 2,000 acres of farmland.

“It’s a grain operation. We grow field corn for animal feed and for human consumption and we grow a species of corn to make popcorn,” Mounce said.

The result is a delicious array of popcorn treats.

“Our original butter popcorn is our highest volume seller,” Mounce said.

Next in line in popularity: cheese popcorn.

Also popular are the company’s Movie Popcorn, which imitates the movie theater variety of the salty treat, White Cheddar Popcorn, Kettle Corn, Old-fashioned Caramel Corn and the newest addition, Texas Pete Hot Popcorn, which comes in original and cheddar.

“We collaborate with Garner Foods out of Winston-Salem. They produce Texas Pete Hot Sauce,” Mounce said. “We’re always looking to do different flavors. What we are focusing on is developing Texas Pete corn and developing it in different sizes.”

Ten-ounce bags of Yadkin Valley Popcorn varieties are customer favorites. Newly introduced one-ounce bags are growing in popularity.

“It’s gaining a lot of momentum. It’s a good size if you’re traveling or packing lunch for the kids. It’s enough to satisfy a craving,” he said.

Flavoring ingredients are provided by Mother Murphy’s Flavors, headquartered in Greensboro.

Planting is calculated to match predicted demand.

“We do a forecast of what we’ll do this year in terms of growth,” he said. “Yadkin County is predominantly an agricultural county, though we do have some textiles in the area. We’re here on the farm. We are a true farm-to-table company.”

The staff of 13 handles the entire production process all the way through packaging. Business owners Chad Eller and Mark Gallimore also employ a farm manager, Mounce said, to supervise crop production.

All of the Yadkin Valley Popcorn is popped, seasoned and packaged for store shelves before it leaves the premises on delivery trucks.

“Our biggest customers pick up their loads,” he said. Trucks are hired to transport products to smaller-volume customers. Yadkin Valley Popcorn products have a relatively simple shipment protocol because the product is ready-to-eat and doesn’t require refrigeration.

Mounce said the company’s products were gratefully received by nearby residents affected by Hurricane Helene last fall. Though the farm was not directly impacted by the storm, areas not far from the farm did experience its effects.

“We donated products to the recovery efforts. People are pulling together and it’s really refreshing to see,” he said.

Mounce said the company conducts diligent food safety procedures to ensure customer safety and satisfaction. At the end of each week, all production equipment is thoroughly cleaned.

“We prepare products that contain allergens last. If there’s dairy in it, it gets popped last,” he said. “We’ve never had a recall. Food safety is at the top of our list.”

For more information about Yadkin Valley Popcorn, visit www.yadkinvalleypopcorn.com