I don't eat that much candy any more, a combination of cavity prevention and calorie consumption. I might try something new when it comes out or have a bite around the holidays, but I do try to limit myself whenever possible. That doesn't mean I eat completely clean, just not the worst offenders. My mother also tries to limit her candy eating, but for a different reason. She is prone to cholesterol problems, and too much candy can aggravate them. As such, she limits herself to her absolute favorites. One of those has been a chocolate-covered orange marshmallow pumpkin that is a seasonal treat for fall/Halloween. When the seasonal deliveries for fall started to roll out, there were no orange pumpkins to be found. Admittedly, the first shipments at one location had to be sent back because they had melted, even after being packed with dry ice. Probably shipping them in early-August during a heat wave was the reason. Seriously, you shouldn't be shipping Halloween-themed chocolate candy in August anyway. Well, even after those shipments were replaced, that store didn't have that flavor. Now, the owners have been known to pick some of their favorites over having a wider variety, but this year that didn't seem to be the case. Other locations also didn't have orange pumpkins, either. After a few weeks of futile searching, the manufacturer's website finally updated for fall, and the was horrible news. While many of the usual flavors were present, including new (for the seasonal selection if not for the company) chocolate marshmallow and chocolate truffle varieties, there was no orange. There was even a raspberry version, even though neither the flavor nor the color is that associated with Halloween. The company, which I will not be naming, sometimes holds a flavor back for awhile into a season. At least once, they didn't really publicize a variety, a lemon flavor egg for Easter/spring. However, this doesn't appear to the case this time. Neither my mother nor I could figure out why they would discontinue a flavor that had been around well over thirty years. Too be honest, the company has been cutting back in the overall number of varieties and new flavors recently. Just a few years ago, the company had brought out orange creme, cranberry (maybe with almond), and even pumpkin spice flavors. My mother tried all three, and she kind of like all of them. None of them lasted long. Now, the company does produce an orange creme variety of candy year-round, but that wouldn't be exactly the same. This past weekend, my mother contacted the company to ask why the orange variety had been discontinues. While she got an offer for a discount on ordering candy, she has yet had a direct response to her email. Usually, I have been the one to suffer over the years as my favorite foods have been discontinued, time and time again. My mother has rarely had to go through the same difficulties, and I don't like that fact that she has to go through this. One of the few true joys she has is eating her last pumpkin of the season on her birthday, weeks after Halloween. This year, I don't know what she will do. None of the other flavors are another favorite of hers. Vanilla or coconut would be closest. Orange marshmallow was only produced for Halloween, none of the other holiday seasons--Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Easter. I know of no other candy maker that has orange marshmallow, at least that sells locally. I really wish that I could do more, but I don't see what that could be. To be honest, I don't feel that orange flavors work with chocolate too well, nor is there that much a connection with the flavor with Halloween beyond the color, but I still want to do more.
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