Essex wants EU protected status for its popcorn

The county attempts to claim EU protection for its kernels – will it succeed?

The county capital of Essex, Chelmsford, is leading the charge to claim EU protection for a specific breed of corn, which is fast becoming popular as the kernel of choice throughout the county for making popcorn.

The kernels have an extremely dense interior, causing them to be very loud when they pop.

This not only makes the stuff even more fun to make than normal, but with those bangs come even larger popped pieces. The variety has a naturally slightly sweet flavour, which makes it perfect for immediate consumption, doing away with the need for additional salt or sweeteners.

UK weather

Though the UK has historically struggled to grow corn, over the last few years the farming community in Essex has turned to growing this new variety – iocus spelta. This had been quietly developed by a group of farmers a decade earlier.

It had been developed specifically to cope with the British weather, with mixed results, but the rising summer temperatures in recent years have increased yields and caused many farmers to take an interest in the crop again.

Though it might seem odd, it's certainly possible to get vegetables protected status. Jersey Royal potatoes were one of the very first UK products to receive Protected Designation of Origin in 1996. The common name that is used, which will also be protected under EU law should the application be approved, is simply 'Essex Popcorn'.

"This popcorn has become not only the county's, but the Mayor's personal favourite," said a county council spokesperson. "It's the product of many years of hard graft by dedicated farmers who wanted to push the boundaries of what is possible in Britain, and the results are a credit to British farming industries." 

The application for Protected Designation of Origin has only just been submitted to the EU. It will take some time to process before a decision is made.

The hope is, though, that this measure will prevent the strain being grown elsewhere, therefore taking business away from Essex farmers.

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