Green beer and parades may be the first things that spring to mind for St. Patrick’s Day, but in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Delaware County there’s also a special attachment to the Irish Potato.

The non-potato, non-Irish Irish Potato is a Philadelphia tradition that goes back 100 years.

The best-known wholesale distributor for Irish Potatoes is Oh Ryan’s in Boothwyn, which has been around for 30 years.

The candy company, a family business, distributes through Wawa, BJs Wholesale, Giant Food Stores, and other major retailers.

Sales Manager Harry Hefton, a 20-year company man, says Oh Ryan’s produces and sells 97,000 pounds of Irish Potatoes in just the first three months of each year.

Most sales are in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic, but the product has found its way around the world.

“We’ve hit every state in the US, including Hawaii!” he says. “We’ve also sold to Germany, England, France and Puerto Rico. We just sold some to a guy who was taking them to Ireland!”

Owners Dave Lamparelli and his wife Laurel started Oh Ryan’s and Christopher Chocolates in Newtown Square.  The two stores are named after their two children.

Read more about Oh Ryan and the Irish Potato at PA Eats.

Neet the owners of Oh Ryan’s.