Christopher Hershey, 42, a disabled veteran who worked for years at the State Department and the White House, now uses his diplomatic skills to sell kettle corn.
Hershey and his family love having movie nights, and what’s a movie night without popcorn? He started making it at home, and now peddles the family’s GMO-free kettle corn on the streets of Portland. “We’ve really tried to elevate the ingredients to make it gourmet and not your usual kettle corn,” he said. “It’s a snack food, but it doesn’t have to be junk food.”
WHAT HE SELLS: A variety of flavors, including Berbere Bliss (Ethiopian spice blend), Rosemary-Parmesan and Maki Pop (Maine sea salt and seaweed blend).
HOW MUCH: A small is $4.50; large $6.50; party size $11.50.
CUSTOMER FAVORITE: Casco Bay, a more savory kettle corn made with spices that taste similar to Old Bay seasoning but include ingredients such as Hungarian paprika for “a little bit of sweet, a little bit of heat.” Kids love the Cinnamonium, which smells like French toast as it’s popping.
HOW TO FIND HIM: Most often found on weekdays on Marginal Way (next to Trader Joe’s and across from AAA) or Spring Street. Weekends he parks on the Eastern Prom. Hours are usually around 1 to 4 p.m. Check Facebook for updates.
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