CRUNCH. HERITAGE. CALIFORNIA SOIL.
About California Nuggets
Blending Ancient Seeds With American Innovation
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 salted corn snack to run through the facility in 1996 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 kernel resulting in a delicious salted corn snack.
From California Fields
to a Growing Market
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 growers to expand the availability of the new light crunch, salty snack corn variety extending to midwest growers as well.
The Process
Behind the Crunch
Our Corn Nuggets, salty snacks are available in several mouthwatering flavors and packaged in bulk both domestic and worldwide. Our steam baked, oil roasted process seals in the natural corn flavor and creates a plumper kernel with a healthy nutritional profile. Pick up a case today and put our crunch to the test. You will be pleasantly surprised! Enjoy!!
Meet Our Sister Company
Our sister company Golden Gate Nut Company offers oil roasted chickpeas/garbanzos, fava beans and other tasty items. Golden Gate Nut also houses a complete state-of the art Nut processing plant and custom roasting services.  Cold storage facilities, shipping docks and several warehouses are also available at the Ripon location.