If you grew up in the Bay Area, chances are you may have taken a school field trip to the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, California. The factory has been a popular visitor destination since 1986, offering a firsthand look at the candy-making process and the history of the Jelly Belly brand. In what may be a surprise to some visitors, the candy factory is also filled with memorabilia to honor President Ronald Reagan.
Reagan’s affinity for the candy led to a long and storied history between Jelly Belly and the White House, and the Fairfield factory continues to be something of an unexpected shrine to the 40th president. Here’s what to know about this surprising connection.
Ronald Reagan and Jelly Belly
Jelly Belly’s connection to Ronald Reagan began in 1966, when Reagan, then running for Governor of California, turned to jelly beans as a substitute to help him quit pipe smoking. The Oakland-based Herman Goelitz Candy Company, later known as Jelly Belly, sent him monthly shipments of jelly beans during his two terms in Sacramento.
Herman Goelitz introduced its Jelly Belly brand in 1976, and continued to supply the Reagan White House with regular shipments of jelly beans throughout his presidency from 1981-1989. For his inauguration, Reagan ordered over three tons of red, white, and blue Jelly Belly beans, and the company even created the blueberry flavor just for this occasion. The White House had a standing order of 720 bags of Jelly Belly beans every single month.
The president’s love for Jelly Belly beans quickly became common knowledge. He kept jars of them on his desk in the Oval Office, at cabinet meetings, and on Air Force One. He even used them as a lighthearted litmus test in his meetings, famously remarking:
You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by whether he picks out all of one color or just grabs a handful.
Of course, Reagan’s enthusiasm for Jelly Belly quickly transformed the company from a regional business into a global sensation. After a photo of him with a jar of Jelly Belly beans ended up on national news, demand for jelly beans skyrocketed, and the brand continues to pay homage to Reagan forty years on.
The Jelly Belly factory experience
The Jelly Belly Factory’s visitor experience is something of a Reagan shrine at every turn, from a portrait of the president made with Jelly Belly beans to a memorabilia cabinet filled with artifacts. Displays include historic photos, correspondence, and gifts that chronicle Reagan’s decades-long relationship with the brand. One letter on display includes his famous quip:
We can hardly start a meeting or make a decision without passing around a jar of jelly beans.
While the Reagan memorabilia is a fascinating and unexpected part of the Jelly Belly Factory, the Fairfield attraction offers much more. Visitors are invited to experience self-guided tours, watch candy-making demonstrations, sample exclusive candies, board the Jelly Belly express train, and enjoy interactive exhibits. The tour includes a walk along an elevated, quarter-mile tour lane for a bird’s-eye view of the factory floor.
📍 Location: Jelly Belly Candy Store, 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield, CA 94533
🗓️ Hours: Daily from 9am to 5pm
🎟️ Reservations: No reservation needed, but there is an admission fee of $8 for adults and $4 for children.
📱 Contact: +1-800-9-JELLYBEAN (+1-800-953-5592)