Transcript
AMANDA MCNULTY:
Hello, I'm Amanda McNulty of Clemson Extension and Making It Grow.
The U. S. Department of Agriculture is not just a place for the latest and best research on crops, diseases, and insect pests. While looking for information on popcorn, I came across the site for popcorn on the USDA History Library. Here's what they say about a favorite snack:
Popcorn's starchy interior contains a small amount of water and is surrounded by a very hard husk that expands when the water turns to steam. Some Indigenous people believe spirits lived inside each kernel of corn and happily sat quietly unless they were heated up. Just like us, they didn't want their houses to get too hot and when angry they burst out of their homes. Since my family doesn't have central air, I can empathize with those kernels — it's just another way to let off steam.
