UNION COUNTY, Pa. — Nothing says Christmas quite like a candy cane, and a store in Union County is making them all season long.
It's the busy season at Purity Candy as people stop by the store near Allenwood for their holiday treats. Candy canes are in almost everyone's bag.
"Favorite candy canes. We have to come over here every year and get them!" said Virginia Bartron from Williamsport.
These aren't the candy canes you see in the big-box stores. The staff at Purity Candy make them all by hand.
"Over the years, the candy canes are what has stuck, and other things have taken off. We just keep making what the people want," said owner John Burfeindt.
"If you make them all day long, you can make three batches. It's very time-consuming," Burfeindt explained as he walked us through the process.
One batch makes about 400 small candy canes and has 25 pounds of sugar. This is a quick process. Once the candy canes are cut, they harden within a few minutes. The crew shapes them within about 30 seconds.
Burfeindt believes candy canes are one of Purity Candy's best sellers because of all the work that goes into making them.
"Everything is the machines that can make everything, and then you watch something being done like this. I think there's a real appreciation going back for handcraft."
Customers seem to agree.
"They're awesome," Jessica Mathias said. "Just lovely, large, and something you can enjoy for days at the holidays, all sorts of flavors."
There are about a dozen different flavors of handmade candy canes at Purity Candy.