candy

If you want to base yourself out of the region’s hub, La Crosse, a good option is the Charmant Hotel, a former candy factory, which combines comfy digs with sensational cocktails on the Mississippi River.

On blustery afternoons, my street’s geography sends every scrap of airborne litter to my curb: candy wrappers, Styrofoam peanuts and Trader Joe’s receipts that reveal too much about the neighbors’ taquitos intake.

Their dollars are flowing to niche names with more cultural cachet, from fancy new protein bars to chewier candy.

In 2023, Gabriel authored the California Food Safety Act, which prohibits several food additives — including red dye No. 3 — that are commonly found in soda, candy and cereal.

The company also has seasonal offerings, including a cookie butter latte and a candied cherry energy drink.