Pop Gold

Eunice “Honey” Swanson had a delicious secret, a family recipe for the most delectable, flavorful, sweet, indulgent caramel corn ever enjoyed. A recipe so secret in fact, that the origin is unknown and a recipe for which she became the sole caretaker and curator. It was referred to as “Honey’s Caramel Corn,” and she would make batches of it for holidays and special events, and sometimes for no reason at all. In 1992 her grandson Chris Handy, who was a student at Fresno State, chose to live with his grandparents while there and in doing so was not only the first in line to enjoy the exquisite treat, he had a front row seat to see how it was made. His interest in what she was baking was genuine, and so in time, Grandma Honey passed on the recipe to Chris and he became the keeper of the delicious secret.

In 2018, Chris - whose profession is designing, publishing, and marketing table- top games - and his wife Jenn - a public educator - came to the Central Coast and brought his family secret with them. They founded PopGold in 2021, a family-owned business that makes and markets the craft caramel corn that his grandmother is famous for. Although you can buy PopGold online and find it at various retailers and venues such as Hive Supply Co.; Paso Robles, SLO, & Los Olivos General Stores; Heritage Goods and Supply; SLO Farmer’s Market; Fremont Theater; Vino Robles Amphitheatre; etc., PopGold is also available for packaging for special events. PopGold is the perfect sweet gift for members of a Bridal Party, guests at a rehearsal dinner, welcome baskets for travelling guests, and the ideal treat for a wedding reception. Their small, medium, and large sized bags accommodate every need. PopGold is just five ingredients, perfectly attenuated to create an appetizing and enjoyable treat. PopGold: Mining Pure Goodness – Promoting Shared Experiences. To order PopGold or get more information about having PopGold at your event, you can contact Chris and Jenn here: