EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — Halloween is the time of year for kids of all ages to go trick-or-treating and collect some sweet treats, many of which have origins in the Keystone State.
Pennsylvania is home to the most prominent chocolate manufacturer in the United States: The Hershey Company, which produces Halloween treat favorites such as Hershey Chocolate Kisses and the Hershey Chocolate Bar.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups also has its roots in Pennsylvania, according to the Hershey Company. The H.B. Reese Candy Company, later acquired by the Hershey Company in 1963, made its home in Hummelstown, Dauphin County, where they produced the famous peanut butter-chocolate combination.
According to the Hershey Company, the York Peppermint Patty was first created by the York Cone Company back in 1940 and in 1988, became a part of the Pennsylvania chocolate company.
Based in Lancaster, the Young & Smylie Confectionary Company was the birthplace of the licorice treat Twizzlers, according to the Hershey Company. The sweet treat maker was later acquired by the Hershey Company back in 1977.
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However, The Hershey Company is not the only candy business in the Keystone State. Just Born Confections made its home in Bethlehem in 1932 and has been making sweet treats for more than 100 years.
In 1953, Just Born Confections acquired the Lancaster-based Rodda Candy Company, which produced the sugary bird-shaped marshmallow treats we know today as Peeps.
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In addition to Peeps, Just Born Confections also makes other Halloween candy staples, such as Mike and Ikes, Teenee Beanee Jelly Beans, and Hot Tamales.
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There are other treats you may not find in a Halloween bag, but have their roots in northeastern Pennsylvania.
You may recall selling or buying chocolate bars for a variety of fundraisers from the Scranton-based company, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates. Gertrude Hawk's has been selling a variety of treats since 1936, like their assorted chocolates, caramel apples, and their signature Smidgens.
Also out of Lackawanna County is Jon Stopay Candies where you can get all your handcrafted chocolate essentials all year round.
28/22 News paid them a visit for Valentine's Day and reporter Sydney Kostus got a close-up look at how the chocolates are made.
Going down the San Souci Parkway in Hanover Township, chocolate connoisseurs could also stop by Michael Mootz Candies. With a wide variety of chocolate confections, those with a sweet tooth will have trouble deciding just which goodies to take home.
28/22 News reporter Amelia Sack also stopped by Michael Mootz Candies last Halloween as they prepared for the most horrific time of the year.
