The Most Famous Food Brands From Every State
Updated: Dec. 03, 2023
Find out which famous food brand hails from your state!
Alabama
Wickles Pickles, Dadeville
There are a lot of pickle brands out there, but Wickles Pickles definitely stands out. Every jar is filled with crispy chips and more than a hint of spice! They create a signature Southern-style pickle by using apple cider vinegar brine and bright red chili peppers, along with a few other secret pickle spices. Love pickles? This new product will blow your mind.
Alaska
Hidden Valley Ranch, location unknown
None of the stories disclose the town in Alaska, but plumber Steve Henson was working in the Alaskan bush when he created Ranch. It was a tricky way to get his grouchy co-workers to eat their vegetables! Years later, he moved to California, bought a piece of property named Hidden Valley Ranch, and the rest is history.
Learn our secret to making the best homemade ranch dressing.
Arizona
Cold Stone Creamery, Tempe
The founders of Cold Stone Creamery weren’t satisfied with the ice cream they could buy, so they decided to make a better brand. Their secret? Making the ice cream in-house every day and mixing it on a granite slab that’s chilled to 16 degrees.
Arkansas
Jimmy Dean Sausage (Tyson Foods), Springdale
Before Jimmy Dean was making sausage, he was a hit country star. After years of singing and acting, he became convinced that he could make the best sausage around. So, he ditched his career and teamed up with his brother to become the company’s main salesman.
California
Diamond Nuts, Stockton
Since 99-percent of the walnuts grown in the United States are from California, so it’s no surprise that Diamond Nuts has been selling them since 1912. Although the company specializes in non-GMO walnuts, they also package several other varieties like cashews, almonds and pine nuts.
Colorado
Silk, Broomfield
This famous dairy-free milk producer started as a tofu company and experimented with lots of plant-based foods—like meatballs sandwiches and sausage—before settling on soy milk. Today, Silk makes all kinds of non-dairy milk, including almond, coconut and cashew, along with non-dairy creamers and yogurt.
Connecticut
Pepperidge Farm, Fairfield
Margaret Rudkin had never baked a loaf of bread in her life, but when her son developed allergies she got right to it. Her son showed so much improvement from eating the loaves that the doctor recommended Rudkin to other patients, and she began selling her Pepperidge Farm loaves at a premium price.
Delaware
Rapa Scrapple, Bridgeville
Anyone from Philadelphia has a scrapple obsession, but Delaware is so serious about the meat that they’ve hosted an Apple Scrapple festival for 25 years and counting! The most popular brand of scrapple was invented by two brothers, and the company hasn’t changed the recipes since the 1920s.
Florida
Fresh Del Monte Produce, Coral Gables
In addition to their large produce portfolio, Coral Gables-based Fresh Del Monte also is one of the largest canned fruit and vegetable companies in the world. You probably recognize their brand in the grocery store when you’re picking up some canned tomatoes for your favorite tomato sauce.
Georgia
Coca-Cola, Atlanta
Did you know that the original recipe of Coca-Cola actually contained extracts of cocaine and kola nut? The recipe is still a secret today, but it certainly doesn’t contain anything illegal anymore.
Hawaii
Dole, Honolulu
Dole Food Company started with humble beginnings: the pineapple. Back in the early 1900s, a man named James Dole began to grow pineapples on 60 acres of land. Instead of exporting the fresh fruit, he packed the fruit in cans. He was wildly successful and they expanded their portfolio, growing to a multi-billion-dollar company.
Idaho
Ore-Ida, Boise
The founders of Ore-Ida originally started their company working with frozen corn, but when they expanded to potatoes they couldn’t figure out how to freeze them. After a few experiments, they accidentally invented tater tots, a product that made them significantly more famous than corn!
Illinois
Twinkies, Schiller Park
Everyone’s favorite cream-filled treat was originally filled with bananas! The company only switched to the now-popular vanilla cream because banana imports slowed to a halt during World War II.
Indiana
Pop Weaver Popcorn, Indianapolis
Weaver Popcorn started with door-to-door sales, but this Indiana-based company now produces over 30 percent of the popcorn sold in the world. It’s not hand-shucked and bagged anymore, but Weaver still keeps their processes traditional.
Iowa
Blue Bunny Ice Cream, LeMars
Blue Bunny Ice Cream put the small town of LeMars, Iowa, on the map. It may only have a population of 10,000 people, but they make more ice cream than anywhere in the world. That makes it the Ice Cream Capital of the World!
Kansas
Original Juan, Kansas City
If you’re looking for artisanal hot sauces with a serious burn, Original Juan’s Pain Is Good line is absolutely the choice for you. Every sauce is kettle-cooked in small batches, keeping the process handcrafted.
Learn how to make your own homemade hot sauce with our quick and easy recipes.
Kentucky
Hot Pockets, Mount Sterling
Everyone’s favorite handheld snack is made in the Nestle factory located in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. Did you know that little cardboard packet that comes with each Hot Pocket concentrates the microwave’s heat, making a crispy crust that tastes oven-baked?
Louisiana
Tabasco, Avery Island
Little has changed about this famous oak-aged hot sauce since the 1800s. Every seed originates from Avery Island, and every single pepper is still hand-picked. Even the salt used to mash the peppers comes from the island!
Maine
B&M Beans, Casco Bay
Brick-oven baked beans are something of a New England specialty, and B&M Beans perfected the process back in 1913. The company is now owned by Pillsbury, but they still make their canned beans the traditional way in their Casco Bay factory.
Maryland
McCormick, Sparks
Unless you’re making your own spice blends, chances are good you have more than a few McCormick spices on your shelf. In addition to their signature spice jars, they also make the flavorings for Old Bay, Zatarain’s, Thai Kitchen and Frank’s Red Hot.
Massachusetts
Ocean Spray, Lakeville
Today, Ocean Spray is a huge cooperative of over 700 growers, but it started with just three Massachusetts cranberry growers in 1930. Their first product was jellied cranberry sauce, but they quickly segued into the juice market.
Michigan
Kellogg’s, Battle Creek
The Kellogg brothers accidentally started their company when they created Corn Flakes, an easily digestible and nutritious breakfast cereal. The cereal was a hit, and it wasn’t long until the company had cornered the ready-to-eat breakfast market.
Minnesota
Spam, Austin
When Hormel introduced Spam to the world in 1937, they had no idea it would become an international favorite. It’s so popular these days in the Philippines that the restaurant Spam Jam serves nothing but Spam-inspired dishes!
Mississippi
Barq’s Root Beer, Biloxi
In 1898, Edward Charles Edmond Barq, Sr., moved to the beach resort town of Biloxi and bottled his first root beer. The chemist-turned-mixologist immediately had a following with the uniquely-flavored beverage, but Prohibition really created the sales boom that put Barq’s on the map.
Missouri
Kraft Mac and Cheese, St. Louis
This iconic blue box was invented during World War II. It was a time when meat and dairy were highly rationed, and families needed something hearty and filling. Kraft Mac and Cheese cost only 19 cents and had a shelf life of 10 months!
Montana
Cream of the West, Harlowton
If hot, whole-grain cereal is your thing, you’ve probably had Cream of the West. The only ingredient is organic red wheat, and it’s made with 100-percent whole grains that are milled and grown in Montana.
Nebraska
Kool-Aid, Hastings
Did you know that Kool-Aid brought a family from rags-to-riches, a true example of the American Dream? Inventor Edwin E. Perkins was inspired by Jell-O’s transformation from powder to gel and was convinced he could turn his invention, a drink called Fruit-Smack, into a powder. He did, and became a millionaire!
Nevada
Umpqua Oats, Las Vegas
This Las Vegas-based company sells single serving breakfast cups that will change the way you think about oatmeal. The founders of Umpqua Oats were tired of the oatmeal that came out of paper packets, so they invented a healthier grab-and-go oatmeal.
New Hampshire
Stonyfield Farm Inc., Londonderry
This famous, organic yogurt brand started as a way to fund a nonprofit organic farming school back in 1983. The yogurt was such a hit, the founders realized they could make more of a difference selling their product than teaching students—and the rest is history!
New Jersey
Hellmann’s, Englewood Cliffs
Mayonnaise is pretty a polarizing topic—you either love it or you hate it, and those that dig it have brand loyalty that runs pretty deep. People love Hellmann’s because they still make their mayo with three simple ingredients—eggs, vinegar and oil. That’s it!
New Mexico
Hatch Chile Company, Albuquerque
New Mexico is famous for their chiles, but no chile is more iconic than the Hatch green chiles. If you’ve ever needed a can of green chiles for chiles rellenos, you’ve probably grabbed one of their cans.
New York
Boar’s Head, New York City
Back in 1905, the Boar’s Head founder was delivering his deli meat with a horse-drawn wagon. Today, it’s still a family-run company but it’s distributed all over the country! In addition to high-quality deli meats, you can also find their signature condiments, like mustard and barbecue sauce.
North Carolina
Mt. Olive Pickles, Mount Olive
The Mt. Olive Pickle Company wasn’t originally trying to make their own pickles—they just wanted to brine cucumbers and sell them to other companies. When that didn’t work out, they started canning their own pickles and now they’re one of the largest privately held pickle companies in the country.
North Dakota
Cream of Wheat, Grand Forks
You might not know that North Dakota is one of the top producers of spring wheat, growing almost half of the country’s supply along with barley, oats and durum wheat (for making pasta). So, it’s no surprise that the breakfast staple, Cream of Wheat, was invented by wheat millers in Grand Forks, ND, back in 1893.
Ohio
Smuckers, Orrville
You might love Smuckers for their perfectly sweetened preserves, but they do so much more than that. The J.M. Smucker Company also owns Jif peanut butter, Pillsbury and Folger’s—everything you need to start your day out right!
Oklahoma
Nonni’s Foods, Tulsa
The leading brand of biscotti in America is Nonni’s Foods. You may also know them as their market name, La Dolce Vita or THINaddictives. Since they’re made without artificial preservatives or flavors and quality ingredients, including real fruit, they make a perfect snack.
Oregon
Tillamook County Creamery Association, Tillamook
This farmer-owned dairy co-op does more than just milk cows—they’re famous for making cheese, ice cream, butter and yogurt. If you visit the Oregon factory, you can tour the facility and watch the cheese being made!
Pennsylvania
Heinz Ketchup, Pittsburgh
Today, ketchup is one of the most ubiquitous condiments in the United States, but it wasn’t actually invented until the late 1800s. A man named Henry J. Heinz added a large amount of vinegar to preserve ripe, red tomatoes and now it’s one of the most recognizable bottles in the world.
You can clean with ketchup—here’s how.
Rhode Island
Glee Gum (Verve, Inc.), Providence
This woman-owned business takes chewing gum back to its roots, importing chicle tree sap from Guatemala and making gum the old-fashioned way. Parents love Glee Gum because it doesn’t contain any preservatives, sweeteners or artificial flavors.
South Carolina
Rice Krispies, Rock Hill
Rice Krispies cereal might not have been invented in South Carolina, but the man responsible for their branding lived in Rock Hill. Illustrator Vernon Grant created the characters Snap, Crackle and Pop—which is considered by many to be one of the greatest moves in American advertising.
South Dakota
Bel Brands USA, Brookings
The French-owned company, Bel Brands, makes many of its favorite cheeses in Brookings, South Dakota. You might recognize them from the iconic wax-covered Babybel cheese, tubs of garlicky Boursin cheese or their Laughing Cow cheese.
Tennessee
Benton’s, Madisonville
Chefs all around the country are singing the praises of Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams. The company follows the same family recipes established in 1947, and they’re known for making some of the smokiest bacon and savory hams in the world.
Texas
Frito Lay, Plano
Lay’s recent Do Us A Flavor contest led to some pretty wacky flavored chips, including crispy taco, cappuccino and Southern biscuits and gravy. (We just had to give them a taste test!) It not only boosted sales, but it gave the company a leg-up with millennials, who loved the digital contest.
Utah
Post, Salt Lake City
Post is the third largest producer of cereal in the United States, after General Mills and Kellogg’s. The makers of Honey Bunches of Oats and Fruity Pebbles distributes most of their cereals out of Salt Lake City.
Vermont
Ben & Jerry’s, Burlington
When a couple of childhood friends teamed up to start Ben & Jerry’s, they sold everything from crepes to soup. Over the years, they scaled back and focused on what they’re really good at—ice cream with fun and funky flavors.
Virginia
Smithfield, Smithfield
Smithfield uses such a unique curing process for their hams it’s actually protected by law. The company can only produce their hams in the town of Smithfield, VA, where the humidity, airborne enzymes and air quality are perfect to flavor the ham’s rind.
Washington
Starbucks, Seattle
This now-international coffee brand was originally a small location that sold small-batch roasted coffee beans out of Pike Place Market. It wasn’t even started by businesspeople—the original founders were writers and teachers. Now, they’re so famous that we were able to create over 20 copycat recipes.
West Virginia
Ziegenfelder, Wheeling
You might not know the Ziegenfelder name, but you’ll certainly recognize one of their best-selling products—the Sonic drive-in Popsicle. The ice pop company has been around for 154 years, and it has been women-owned for the last 10 years.
Wisconsin
Swiss Miss, Menomonie
The famous packets of Swiss Miss hot chocolate weren’t originally invented for consumers. They were exclusively served on airlines since the powdered milk package was lightweight and the flight attendants only had to add hot water to make the drink.
Wyoming
Wyoming Gourmet Beef, Cody
It’s not surprising that the Cowboy state is flush with beef jerky! You can order Wyoming Gourmet Beef from anywhere in the country, except Alaska and Hawaii. Their gluten-free, MSG-free, nitrite-free beef sticks are some of the best in the business.
