RECOGNIZING PIPER'S GROCERY AND HOMEMADE CANDIES

On 2026-09-28, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING PIPER'S GROCERY AND HOMEMADE CANDIES" in the Senate.

RECOGNIZING PIPER'S GROCERY AND HOMEMADE CANDIES

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 153 (Monday, September 28, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 153 (Monday, September 28, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S5069-S5070] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING PIPER'S GROCERY AND HOMEMADE CANDIES Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, as chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Piper's Grocery and Homemade Candies of Lucas County, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Piper's has been a fixture of downtown Chariton for more than a century. Joe L. Piper opened Piper's Grocery in 1905 on the northeast corner of the square, where the business remains today. Piper's quickly became a trusted local grocery store, serving the community with fresh meats, bread, and other everyday essentials. When Joe retired, his son Bob took over the business with his wife Ruth. The couple continued providing quality goods but added a new specialty: homemade candy. Bob learned candy-making techniques from his brother John and began selling the treats at the store. Piper's continues to use those trusted recipes today. In the 1980s, Anne and Jim Kerns, longtime employees at Piper's, purchased the business and continued Bob's legacy. The couple operated the business with the same high standards and commitment to quality that Bob had established. Their daughter Jill Kerns returned to Chariton in 1997 and purchased the store from her parents the following year. Today, Jill and her team continue making Piper's candies in small batches using the same recipes and techniques passed down through generations. The store has also maintained its old-fashioned grocery roots, offering deli meats and cheeses, fresh sandwiches, groceries, and a variety of Iowa-made foods and locally crafted products. While Piper's has preserved its historic character, Jill has also found new ways to share a taste of Chariton far [[Page S5070]] beyond Lucas County. Customers can now order Piper's handmade candies online and have them shipped across the country and around the world. Piper's has also earned statewide recognition for preserving a piece of Iowa history, including features from Iowa PBS and Travel Iowa highlighting the store as a destination for visitors looking to experience an old-fashioned Iowa main street business. Even as its reach has grown, Piper's remains deeply connected to the Chariton community. Jill credits generations of loyal customers with helping the business thrive and takes pride in carrying locally made products and providing jobs for area residents. In 2023, Chariton Chamber/Main Street recognized Piper's in its Small Business Spotlight, highlighting the store's contributions to the local community. Piper's also supports local nonprofits, participates in community auctions, and remains involved in events throughout the area. More than 120 years after Joe Piper first opened his grocery store, Piper's continues to bring together history, entrepreneurship, and community. Jill and her team have preserved the traditions that made Piper's a Chariton institution while adapting the business to serve a new generation of customers. The entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to community demonstrated by Piper's Grocery and Homemade Candies embody the very best of Iowa small businesses. I want to congratulate Jill Kerns and the entire Piper's team for their hard work, dedication, and exceptional service to Lucas County. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success. ____________________