World-famous candy was created in Colorado and named for state's 'friendly western' vibes

There's a good chance you're a fan of a popular Colorado-born candy without knowing anything about its Centennial State roots.

Known for bringing a blast of fruity flavor and a stained tongue to consumers, the Jolly Rancher first appeared in the Denver metro area in 1949. Bill and Dorothy Harmsen founded the Jolly Rancher Company in Golden, with the 'Jolly Rancher' name meant to invoke friendly western vibes.

While the Harmsen's sweetshop also sold chocolates and ice cream at the time, the Jolly Rancher candy quickly rose to the top in terms of popularity. It also helped that many colder months in Colorado would result in a dip in ice cream sales, making the move to focus on something that could be sold year-round a great business strategy.

According to a report from Penn State, the production of the Jolly Rancher moved out of Golden and to Wheat Ridge in 1951, with the company later sold to Beatrice Foods in 1966 and then to Leaf Candy Company in 1983. The Hershey Company would ultimately purchase Jolly Rancher Company in 1996, maintaining ownership of the company and brand today, but moving production out of Colorado in 2002.

In 2023, Jolly Rancher-branded candies come in a wide varieties of shapes and sizes, with the most popular flavor being watermelon, according to The Hershey Company. Per a July 2022 report from Snack and Bakery, hard candy sales have been booming in recent years, with the Jolly Rancher brand leading the pack with $159 million in sales – 22.4 percent ahead of the previous year.

Next time you find yourself sucking on a Jolly Rancher and hoping it doesn't turn your tongue blue, don't forget about the candy's humble Colorado roots.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)