Reviews
100 years Family Tradition in The West
Nov 28, 2021 | By Nancy Heyer
1920 was the year grandparents homesteaded to Montana. Both had left large families who either purchased in Columbia County Dried Sweet Corn or grew the "special" corn, and dried in various ways. Their siblings always sent a tiny glass jar, heat sealed and packed tightly for the little new family of four ate wild goose, venison or wild duck, game shot by them. A after WW2, the Pennsylvania families discovered Copes. The corn was packed in tins with the cap on top. The family had grown to 12 at the table.
The five grandchildren grew and the beginning of the season began with mailing Copes to Germany, California, Idaho ,Washington, and Oregon.
While Gram was alive until she was 94, she received the round of phone inquiries as to "how to prepare" the Copes the same way Gram did. I, her middle granddaughter am in possession of her written method to guarantee that the batch would be exact or close to the way we recalled it. On Wednesday night, my niece called me to get it right.
And now part of our large traditions is that the only place we will get our Copes is from Pennsylvania General Store! Our son is in Oregon, our daughter is in Idaho. The Tennessee niece sends some to her daughter in Virginia.
I am now 73 years old. I have had one Thanksgiving without Copes. We were traveling in the military that year, 1969.
Walking into our homes on Christmas or Thanksgiving has the smell of memories, of helping Gram pull pin feathers from the bird, of tasting the stuffing for perfection, and the true family tradition of our Pennsylvania roots. Today we don't have to bother our dear relatives there to get our Copes. With the stroke of our fingers, and some planning, in each home of our widespread family, the unique smell of the slow-cooking corn is the FIRST thanks and instant connection thousands of miles apart.
It is as traditional as the Christmas tree or the Turkey.
And finally, the staff at Pennsylvania Country Store truly understand these family traditions. Two years ago I actually spoke to a nice lady in the shipping department whose last words to this last minute shopper for corn were, "Do not worry my dear, you WILL have your corn on your table on Thursday". She bid me a Thanksgiving wish. She promised and the trucks delivered.
Blessings to PGS. 100 plus years of this corn on our family's tables all over the world truly represents loyalty, but one family's tradition taken around the world.
Owner Response: Thank you for sharing this wonderful family story, Nancy!
Copes dried corn
Oct 31, 2016 | By Kay
I've been using dried corn for years. My mom dried corn on a coal cooking stove when I was very young. I've discovered Copes Dried Corn in very few super markets but since I learned of your Store I have been purchasing it for myself and serving it at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I've used it for a gift to people after serving it in my Holiday meals. Young people love it and have no idea where to purchase it. Usually I buy several package of it so that it can be an unexpected gift.