Food Plant Tours- Need Help!

[thomascaldwell1]

A few weeks ago I was watching something either on Food Network or Travel Channel that listed off the top 10 best food factories to tour (Ben & Jerry's, Coca-Cola, etc.). I can not remember all ten and am hoping that someone out there can remember them, or can suggest some others along the east coast, maybe even in the south (I'm in Alabama). We have a week in December that we are debating to go to WDW for a 2nd time this year, or maybe just make a sort of road trip out of visiting varous food/candy/drink manufacturer's and seeing their operation, and of course testing their product too!! Yum! Thanks in advance for any plant tours you all can suggest!

 

[Karenj2]

Well, you can hit two places in the PA area - Herr's potato chip factory in Oxford PA and the Hershey Tour in Hershey, PA. (I'm not sure if the Hershey one is an actual factory tour - haven't been in a while)

 

[nannerbadnanner]

Purity Dairy in Nashville. They won't actually allow a tour, but they show a film and then pull back a curtain so you can watch them make the ice cream. At the end, they give you free ice cream! I did this with my DDs a few months ago, and it was awesome.

Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, TN....this may not be kid friendly!

There is a website called www.factorytoursusa.com that lists tours by state.

 

[PaulaSue]

I second PA tours if you are in the area.

Here in York we have Martins (chips), Wolfgangs (chocolate). Not sure if Snyders, Stauffers and UTZ does them. (We are known as the snack food capital.)

Hershey is not really the factory tour but the samples are good and the park is fun.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

There is a GREAT book called "Watch it made in the USA" that has listings of all kinds of factories and factory tours. You should be able to track it down at your library.

We tend to go on a lot of these when we're on vacation. Bourbon & Whiskey distilleries are our favorite--Buffalo Trace and Jack Daniels are in BEAUTIFUL settings (and they smell really good too, if that's your thing!). But I'm not sure about age limits.

We've also really enjoyed the Tabasco factory in Louisiana and the Miller brewery tour in Milwaukee.

The Spam Museum in Minnesota was cool, especially since they didn't actually show you how they make it (blerg!)

Right here at home we've got Laffy Taffy and Beer Nuts, but we've never managed to go...

 

[thomascaldwell1]

Purity Dairy in Nashville. They won't actually allow a tour, but they show a film and then pull back a curtain so you can watch them make the ice cream. At the end, they give you free ice cream! I did this with my DDs a few months ago, and it was awesome.

Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, TN....this may not be kid friendly!

There is a website called www.factorytoursusa.com that lists tours by state.

I had a colleague go to this one since it's only about 3 hours away, but she was quite upset that they didn't offer a tasting as this is a 'DRY' town/county. How sad...

There is a GREAT book called "Watch it made in the USA" that has listings of all kinds of factories and factory tours. You should be able to track it down at your library.

We tend to go on a lot of these when we're on vacation. Bourbon & Whiskey distilleries are our favorite--Buffalo Trace and Jack Daniels are in BEAUTIFUL settings (and they smell really good too, if that's your thing!). But I'm not sure about age limits.

We've also really enjoyed the Tabasco factory in Louisiana and the Miller brewery tour in Milwaukee.

The Spam Museum in Minnesota was cool, especially since they didn't actually show you how they make it (blerg!)

Right here at home we've got Laffy Taffy and Beer Nuts, but we've never managed to go...

Can you tell me more about Laffy Taffy and Beer Nuts? Is the company called Beer Nuts? Where abouts are these two located in Illinois? Thanks very much!

I know there's Coca-Cola in Atlanta, GA, and Mayfield Farms (Ice Cream) in TN and GA, and I was saddened to find out that the M&M/Mars factory in Tennessee does NOT offer tours to the public... That stinks!

 

[newscick27]

Hello Thomas,

Greetings from the big city of Florence. The only tour close by that I know of,besides the one in Lynchburg, is just north of Chatanooga, you can tour the Mayfield dairy. Here is the link http://www.mayfielddairy.com/

Hope this helps

Laura

 

[extremesoccermom]

I didn't see the show nor are we in the area you were wondering about but we love the Anheuser-Busch Tour as well as Grant's Farm in St. Louis. They do offer 2 AB samples per person at the end of the tour (I can't remember if the kids get a soda or not)
We also have the Wonder Bread factory. As kids that was our favorite field trip. The warm fresh bread at the end was SOOOO Good!

 

[kydisneyfans]

We LOVED the Busch tour at Grants Farm in St Louis.

Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, KY is a nice tour, they have many kids events throughout the year too.

We visited a Jelly Belly factory in Wisconsin (Kenosha?). Granted, it was more of a warehouse than anything, but the tour was great.

We like the ride at Hershey too.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

Laffy Taffy and Beer Nuts are both here in Bloomington, Illinois. And yes, the company is called Beer Nuts-- www.beernuts.com We're only 2 hours from St. Louis.

If you're doing a road trip this way, I third or fourth going to St. Louis for the Busch tour and Grant's Farm (It ROCKS and you only pay for parking--admission is free). St Louis Zoo is a freebie, as are most of their other attractions in Forest Park, including the Science Center (!!). City Museum is worth a stop and isn't too pricey. It's a surprisingly inexpensive place to take kids on a vacation. You could make some side trips up this way (including that Beer Nuts/Laffy Taffy combo....)

Ooh! I forgot the Precious Moments factory/museum/chapel in Carthage, MO. Not too far from St. Louis and an interesting place to visit. My husband and I appreciated the kitsch factor, but lots of others really felt moved by the place.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

Here's top 10 fun food factory tours from the travel channel:

10.Twinkie

9.Tootsie Pop

8.Ben and Jerry's

7.Sturgis Pretzels

6.Kellogg's Cereal City

5.Hammond's Candies

4.Hershey's Chocolate World

3.The World of Coca-Cola

2.Jelly Belly

1.Krispy Kreme

 

[eeyorefan74]

This sounds like a fun idea for a trip! The top ten list makes me hungry. In Alabama, some tours I know of are the Bud's Best cookie tour in Hoover, and the Blue Bell ice cream plant in Sylacauga. Haven't done the Blue Bell one, but I'd like to. The Bud's Best is short but they give you warm cookies. There's also a Golden Flake plant in Birmingham you can tour.

 

[clh2]

We visited a Jelly Belly factory in Wisconsin (Kenosha?). Granted, it was more of a warehouse than anything, but the tour was great.

Yes - it is in Kenosha. For us, this is a fun rainy-day place to go. The "belly-flops" are great in their store! Cheap too!!

 

[CTdiznymom]

This site offers all kinds of tours.

http://factorytoursusa.com/Index.asp

 

[thomascaldwell1]

This sounds like a fun idea for a trip! The top ten list makes me hungry. In Alabama, some tours I know of are the Bud's Best cookie tour in Hoover, and the Blue Bell ice cream plant in Sylacauga. Haven't done the Blue Bell one, but I'd like to. The Bud's Best is short but they give you warm cookies. There's also a Golden Flake plant in Birmingham you can tour.

Eeyorefan74- Are you in 'Bama too? I have heard of all 3, and all of them are under 1.5 hours away, I just never knew they existed until I started looking into this idea. Golden Flake has an age minimum of 5 and DD is 3.

I did find a few others for the southeast I'm happy to share with the group:
Mayfield Farms
Athens, Tennessee
4 Mayfield Lane
Athens, Tennessee 37303
1-800-MAYFIELD (629-3435)
Hours
Open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Tours
Tours begin every 30 minutes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (with exception of no tour at 12 p.m) and every hour on the hour Wednesday and Saturday. Last tour begins 1 hour before closing. No milk production on Wednesday. No ice cream production on Saturday.

Braselton, Georgia
1160 Broadway Ave.
Braselton, Georgia 30517
1-888-298-0396
Hours
Open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Tours
Tours begin every 30 minutes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (with exception of no tour at 12 p.m). Tours on Saturdays are every hour on the hour. No tours on Wednesdays. Last tour begins 1 hour before closing.

Safety Tips for Dairy Tours
Comfortable, slip-resistant shoes are recommended when touring the plant.

The Answers to All Your Questions...
• Yes, we do eat Ice Cream
• Yes, tours are fun
• 5 Days a Week
• 10:00, 11:00 and 1:00
• Never A Charge
• Any Age
• They are always scheduled so please give us a call
To Make Your Appointment Please Call Peggy Gaw at 615-760-2271 (x 489)

Company
Blue Bell Creameries
423 North Norton Avenue, Sylacauga, AL
888-573-5286
Description
Folks of all ages seem to like our plant tour, but it may be 'cause they get to eat some of our famous ice cream when it's over. Besides, we have a little museum full of rare Blue Bell® and Brenham historic photos that you'll enjoy seeing. Plus, we have a short movie about our history and how we make ice cream that is pretty darn good, too.
Hours
Tours are available by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 1:00pm. Tours last 45 minutes. Please check in at the Country Store on arrival.

Company
Bud's Best Cookies
2070 Parkway Office Circle, Hoover, AL 35244
205-987-4840
Email Address: generalmail@budsbestcookies.com
This tour is free
Description
The tour lets you see the cookie-making process as you ride a miniature train through the plant. Free cookie samples are available after tour.
Hours
If you live in Birmingham or are going to be visiting the Birmingham area and would like to schedule a tour of the Bud's Best Cookies factory, please call:
205-987-4840 in Alabama

Company
Cabbage Patch Kids
Cleveland, GA 30528
706-865-2171
Email Address: raggedyann1372@yahoo.com
Click here to go to the company web site
This tour is free. This a visitor center only, no actual factory tour.
Description
Known the world over as the birthplace of the "hand-stitched" Original Cabbage Patch Kids, BabyLand General Hospital is a very real place.
Hours
Our real world hours are Monday through Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday 10 to 5 eastern standard time, except certain holidays.

Company
Coca Cola World
55 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30301
(404) 676-5151
This a visitor center only, no actual factory tour.
Hours
Hours:
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday
12 Noon - 6:00 p.m. Sunday

Summer Hours: June, July & August
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday

Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and at 3:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Admission:
General Admission $15
Seniors (60+) $13
Children (3-11) $9

Company
Hansel and Gretel Candy Kitchen
8651 Main Street, Helen, GA 30545
800 524-3008
This tour is free
Description
Whether you are looking for such Southern traditions as peanut brittle, divinity, fudge or pralines, there is simply no one who does it better. Hansel & Gretel also specializes in a vast assortment of chocolate molded novelties and chocolate suckers, and offers a wide selection of chocolate gift boxes and other assortments.

During a visit to the large Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen in downtown Helen, you will see these and many more items too numerous to list, made right before your eyes. If you are in town, drop by or call anytime. Our number is 706-878-2443.
Hours
9 am to 7 pm Sunday - Thursday *
9 am to 9 pm Friday & Saturday *
Closed Christmas Day
*Hours extended during peak season!

Company
Old Kentucky Candies' Inc.
450 Southland Drive, Lexington, KY 40503
(800) 786-0579
This tour is free.
Description
Watch the manufacture of Old Kentucky Bourbon Cherries aged in 100 proof Jim Beam Bourbon until they are ready to be dipped in semi-sweet dark chocolate. Or watch Old Kentucky Bourbon Chocolates with 100 proof Jim Beam Bourbon blended in a fondant center being made.
Hours
Tour groups and buses of 8 to 50 people are invited to tour our candy kitchen on Southland Drive in Lexington (by appointment, please!), try a free sample and visit our gift shop.

Company
Rebecca-Ruth®, Candy Factory
112 East Second Street, Frankfort, KY 40602
1-800-444-3766
Email Address: info@rebeccaruth.com
Description
"History Never Tasted So Alive"! Come see the world famous Bourbon
Chocolates being born. This unique confectionery operation is known
worldwide as "The Inventors of Bourbon Candy!," and is located in
historic downtown Frankfort, KY - just a stone's throw from the
Kentucky state capitol building. Tour highlights include "Edna's Table," a 12-foot
curved marble table, and an antique candy furnace with hand-stirred
copper kettles that are still used to this day. Tours also include an educational video and view of the candy production line. The Rebecca Ruth Candy utilizes an eclectic mix of antique & modern equipment to produce the most delightful offering of over 120 confections.
Hours
Tour Times: 9am - 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm - 4:30pm Mon - Sat (January - November). $2.00 per person, children under 5 are free.

Tours are provided all year except in the month of December due to
increased sales volume. Tours are on a "walk-in" basis for groups of
less than 10. In other words, you do not need to make any special
arrangements if your group or family has less than 10 individuals.

I found MANY in PA- boy I wish I lived in the north again! Thanks again everyone for your help!!