While traveling in Japan in 1989, a California farmer and almond processor named Steve Gikas witnessed a process of roasting Peruvian corn. The product was so impressive that Gikas purchased the recipe and returned to Ripon, California with plans to build his own corn processing plant.

The first corn to run through the facility in 1999 was purchased from Mexico and Peru. The original variety of corn seed used to create California Nuggets is over 1000 years old. Gikas then blended this old world seed variety with an American corn seed to produce an unique plump white kernel.

Soon the new seed variety was planted here in California. In the year 2000 a California version of product was offered to the domestic and international marketplace under the California Nuggets label.

The response was overwhelming. Seeing the potential for growth, Mr. Gikas began to commission more California growers to expand the availability of the new light crunch corn variety. Today, California Nuggets Roasted Toasted Corn is available in lots of mouthwatering flavors and packages in bulk and many retail bag sizes.

Our steam baked, oil roasted process seals in the natural corn flavor and creates a plumper, whiter kernel with a healthy nutritional profile. Some corn kernel snacks are tough to crunch. Our nugget is so light, you can crunch it between your fingers.

In 2003 California Nuggets launched the Chompers brand of Nuggets and other dried fruit, nut and trail mix products. California Nuggets and Chompers products are available in schools, warehouse stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gift shops in the US and worldwide.

Pick up a bag today and put our crunch to the test.

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