Pat Toomey Sent Us a Box of Chocolates

Turns out, Sen. Pat Toomey is way more than a Hershey’s guy.

Earlier this month, we told you that Toomey is keeper of the Senate’s traditional “candy desk” — and that one of his predecessors in keeping the chamber’s sweet tooth sated during interminable debates was perpetual presidential candidate Rick Santorum, and that big home-state suppliers like Hershey’s and Just Born were largely responsible for keeping Toomey supplied with sweets.

Cut to this morning, when we arrived at work to find a medium-sized box on our desk. The return address was Toomey’s office. There was no note inside — just lots and lots of candy. All of it, as far as we can tell, from Pennsylvania. (See the pic above.)

There was taffy from the Warrell Corporation in Camp Hill, chocolate-covered pretzels from Romolo Chocolates in Erie, delights from Asher’s Chocolates in Souderton, and many more items.

It was all scrumdillyicious. And it’s proof that Pennsylvania has lots of home-grown little candy-makers to join the big boys.

“Pennsylvania has more than 200 confectioners employing more than 10,000 people,” E.R. Anderson, a spokeswoman for Toomey, said when we called today. The candy desk, she said, “is just a good way for Sen. Toomey to showcase some of the smaller manufacturers.”

Sweet.

Follow @JoelMMathis on Twitter.