KIDS LUV 'EM

We’ve been enjoying Gummy Bears (and all kinds of other gummy candy) at ball parks and movie theaters for over a quarter of a century. Originating in Germany, where the items are hugely popular, the little bears were brought to the States by the German company Haribo under the name “Gold-Bear.” Trolli followed suit with a knock-off version, but they had their own innovative moment in 1981, when they were the first to introduce the gummy worm; it became a mainstay for the candy in its own right. The bears and worms can usually be found in raspberry or cherry, orange, lemon, pineapple strawberry and lime. Other gummies eventually hit the market in a wide variety of shapes, from frogs, to hamburgers, cola bottles, sharks, and even tinier little bears. They also come in a wider variety of flavors including extra sour versions available to suit all confectionery palates. In 1985, the Walt Disney Company jumped aboard the gummy madness with their own interpretation, Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears. Despite the similar name, the bears had very little resemblance to the candy that inspired it. To their credit, they were, at least, each a different color, and able to bounce (not unlike the bear-shaped treat) on their bottoms. Whether you’re watching them on TV, or eating them by the handful, one-by-one, on top of your ice cream or throwing them at the rude guy talking during the movie, gummies truly are classic childhood chewables.