Calling all Jelly Belly enthusiasts! The Jelly Belly Candy Company is excited to announce the search for its first ever Chief Jelly Belly Bean Officer (CJBO).
To help celebrate National Jelly Bean Day on April 22nd, the contest is officially open for online entries across the country as Jelly Belly searches for its biggest fan. The ideal candidate is the ultimate jelly bean aficionado, with an off-the-chart Jelly Belly IQ, a creative palate and inquisitive tastebuds. One lucky winner will receive a $4,500 cash prize, a one-year supply of Jelly Belly jelly beans and official Jelly Belly merchandise that provides them with the title for 2024.
“We are very lucky to have such a large group of Jelly Belly lovers across the country, so National Jelly Bean Day felt like the perfect time to recognize who matters most – the fans,” said Jeff Brown, CEO of Jelly Belly Candy Company. “We’re eager to see which lucky fan will join us as the first ever Chief Jelly Belly Bean Officer for 2024. Someone that appreciates the quality, innovation and true-to-life flavor of our jelly beans will fit right in!”
Fans 18 and older can enter the contest on www.JellyBelly.com/ChiefJBO, where they will show off their Jelly Belly IQ by answering a few questions about the brand and its world-renowned candy. Can they prove their fandom by knowing how long it takes to make a Jelly Belly jelly bean, or which Jelly Belly flavor is the most controversial among jelly bean lovers? Time will tell as entries make their way to the desks at Jelly Belly HQ.
Every year on April 22nd, Jelly Belly celebrates its namesake candy, and this year will look no different. Now through May 17th, fans can enter the contest online and stay tuned to find out if they’re the winner by the end of May.
Tasty Jelly Bean fun facts:
No one knows who started National Jelly Bean Day.
Unlike some of the other sweets-themed holidays, you can celebrate throughout the year, the history of National Jelly Bean Day is pretty much a mystery. It may have been invented by candy manufacturers for promotional purposes, or by fans on social media, or for something else entirely. Whatever the reason, jelly bean lovers can rejoice in April, and often pick up special offer items from jelly bean brands to celebrate.
Jelly Beans were President Ronald Reagan’s favorite treat.
It is true that former President Ronald Reagan famously loved jelly beans – so much, in fact, that the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, California, has multiple exhibits dedicated to him, including portraits made entirely of jelly beans. The story goes that Reagan switched to jelly beans after quitting smoking. The president reportedly had jars of jelly beans on his desk and at official meetings. However, there’s no evidence he’s responsible for the holiday dedicated to his favorite candy.
The origin of jelly beans is a little murky.
Though we know jelly beans were a thing in America as early as the 1800s, there’s no one confectioner we can credit with inventing them. However, many food historians trace the origins of jelly beans to two other unique treats: Jordan almonds and Turkish Delight. Jelly beans have a similar manufacturing process to that of Jordan almonds, called “panning,” in which candy pieces are coated with sugary, sweet shells. As for the connection to Turkish Delight, both candies are gelatin-based chewy pieces with fruity or floral flavors.
Jelly beans are only the third-most-popular Easter candy.
According to National Geographic, Americans eat a whopping 16 billion jelly beans every Easter, but surprisingly, they aren’t the number one Easter basket treat. Americans prefer chocolate bunnies (in first place) and marshmallow Peeps (in second). Most agree that the association of jelly beans with Easter has to do with the egg-like shape of the candy beans.
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