[continued from above]
One of the managers came across an article in a local newspaper documenting the arrest for public drunkenness of a resident who had to be talked down from a tree by the police. When they got him down and asked him to explain himself he said "it must have been the Nut Zipper" referring to a local alcoholic concoction that was popular at the time. Squirrel Brand's managers decided that this would be the perfect name for our new candy.

 

When I was a kid, I lived in rural Georgia. About the best thing that happened them days besides watermelon time was when the plow man would grade the roads. He would toss candy out at us as he would pass... in the candy was BB Bats and Mary Janes and squirrel nut zippers, and safety pops, root beer barrels, Tootsie rolls, all penny candies we would rush to get all we could. We didn't get to go to town much and candy wasn't always on the list.

 

My favorites were always squirrel nut zippers. I'd make bargains with my siblings to get all of them thrown out and as time passes we sometimes forget things from our past even simple things like candy... When I met my husband we went to North Carolina for a visit. We had breakfast at a cute country diner and strolled through the old shops and country stores.

 

Well I found the squirrel nut zippers there and bought every thing they had in stock even a whole unopened box of them. My Husband thought I went nuts, he ate a few and found out how yummy they are. Now when we visit candy stores we search for them just so I can go back in time and remember what a simple life I once had just being a kid. ~ Judy from Florida