Nothing tops those kind-of-delicious conversation hearts for Valentine's Day candy. They're perfect fodder for middle schoolers to dig too deep into a "be mine" message and for triggering waves of nostalgia in adults. Even though the original and beloved Sweethearts won't be on shelves this year, they still remain a favorite around the country, according to new data from CandyStore.com. The candy retailer has once again culled data from 11 years of Valentine's candy sales across the nation to highlight the most beloved Valentine's Day candy in every US state. (At least, the most beloved based on sales figures.) As was the case last year, conversation hearts are tops in the most states. In fact, the chalky candy grew its stranglehold on Cupid's holiday. (Conversation hearts were number one last year, as well.) Though, that information isn't particularly useful if you're using the data to decide what to buy your valentine. Due to Necco going out of business, Sweethearts won't be on shelves in 2019, though there are plans for their return in 2020. For at least one year, you'll need to find another way to call someone "Cutie Pie." Take a look at the interactive map below to see where your state lands in the debate that's mostly between chalky hearts with sappy messages and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. (No, heart-shaped pizza doesn't count.)<doc-sep>In most cases, candy is a given on Valentine's Day. It's right up there with flowers and a night out. More people are giving candy as a gift than any other Valentine's Day item, according to the National Retail Federation annual holiday survey. The trade association estimates more than half of U.S. consumers (52 percent) will spend $1.8 billion on candy. By comparison, 44 percent of consumers are expected to celebrate with greeting cards and 35 percent will spend $1.9 billion on flowers. CandyStore.com compiled a list of the most popular holiday candies in each state using sales data from its online bulk candy store and industry partners. In 2018, conversation hearts were the most popular candy purchased for the second consecutive year, dethroning heart-shaped chocolate boxes, the candy store found. Because one of the most popular conversation hearts brands, Sweethearts, aren't on shelves this year, CandyStore.com expects the hearts to drop dramatically in next year's list. Flower power:Whole Foods again has best online prices for Valentine's roses A sweet solution:Keep the conversation going this Valentine's Day with Sweethearts alternatives Meal deals:Celebrate Valentine's Day with free champagne, specials and more America's favorite Valentine's candy Here's a breakdown of each state's top three Valentine's Day candies with data provided fro CandyStore.com: Alabama Candy necklaces Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Alaska Heart-shaped box of chocolates Conversation hearts Cinnamon bears Arizona Conversation hearts M&M's Heart-shaped box of chocolates Arkansas Hershey's Kisses Conversation hearts Ghirardelli Gift Box California Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Chocolate roses Colorado Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates M&M's Connecticut Heart-shaped box of chocolates Conversation hearts M&M's Delaware Hershey's Kisses Conversation hearts Chocolate hearts Florida Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Chocolate roses Georgia Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Chocolate roses Hawaii Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Candy necklaces Idaho M&M's Conversation hearts Hershey's Kisses Illinois Conversation hearts Chocolate roses M&M's Indiana Heart-shaped box of chocolates Conversation hearts Chocolate roses Iowa M&M's Conversation hearts Ghirardelli Gift Box Kansas Heart-shaped box of chocolates M&M's Ghirardelli Gift Box Kentucky Conversation hearts Chocolate roses M&M's Louisiana Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates M&M's Maine Chocolate hearts Ghirardelli Gift Box Conversation hearts Maryland M&M's Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Massachusetts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Chocolate hearts Conversation hearts Michigan Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Cupid Corn Minnesota Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates M&M's Mississippi Heart-shaped box of chocolates Conversation hearts Chocolate roses Missouri Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Hershey's Kisses Montana Conversation hearts Chocolate hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Nebraska Chocolate hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Cupid Corn Nevada Heart-shaped box of chocolates Conversation hearts Chocolate roses New Hampshire Heart-shaped box of chocolates Conversation hearts Chocolate hearts New Jersey Conversation hearts M&M's Heart-shaped box of chocolates New Mexico Heart-shaped box of chocolates Chocolate roses Candy necklaces New York Heart-shaped box of chocolates Conversation hearts Cinnamon bears North Carolina Heart-shaped box of chocolates Cupid Corn Conversation hearts North Dakota Conversation hearts M&M's Heart-shaped box of chocolates Ohio Heart-shaped box of chocolates Conversation hearts Wild Berry Skittles Oklahoma Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Chocolate roses Oregon Chocolate roses M&M's Heart-shaped box of chocolates Pennsylvania M&M's Heart-shaped box of chocolates Conversation hearts Rhode Island Chocolate hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Conversation hearts South Carolina Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Ghirardelli Gift Box South Dakota Hershey's Kisses Conversation hearts Chocolate hearts Tennessee Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Wild Berry Skittles Texas Heart-shaped box of chocolates Hershey's Kisses Conversation hearts Utah Hershey Kisses M&M's Conversation hearts Vermont Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Candy necklaces Virginia Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates Cupid Corn Washington Heart-shaped box of chocolates Chocolate roses Conversation hearts Washington D.C. Heart-shaped box of chocolates Conversation hearts Cinnamon bears West Virginia Conversation hearts Cupid Corn Candy necklaces Wisconsin Conversation hearts Hershey's Kisses Ghirardelli Gift Box Wyoming Chocolate roses Conversation hearts Heart-shaped box of chocolates More Valentine's Day: A lovely bouquet of breadsticks: Olive Garden offers special item for Valentine's Day Waffle House is taking reservations, but only for Valentine's Day Romance scams surge so hold onto your sweetheart's hand and your wallet on Valentine's Day Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko<doc-sep>
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. That adage may be put to the test this Valentine’s Day, as consumers realize the popular Sweethearts candy — you know, the little sugar hearts with messages such as “Kiss Me” and “Be Mine” — won’t be on store shelves. New England Confectionery Co. — or Necco — made the conversational hearts, which have been a staple of Valentine’s Day for decades. But Necco had a tumultuous 2018, abruptly shutting down in July after an investment firm bought it in a bankruptcy auction. It got new life when it was subsequently bought by Spangler Candy Co. in September, but by then it was, apparently, too late to restart production and distribution in time for Valentine’s Day. In an email, Spangler confirmed it has yet to restart production of Sweethearts, along with Necco Wafers and Canada Mints. About 8 billion Sweethearts are typically produced annually, with the full supply sold in the six weeks before Valentine’s Day, the online bulk candy vendor CandyStore.com said in a blog post. They may be back next year, though. “We are looking forward to announcing the relaunch of Sweethearts for the 2020 Valentine’s Day season,” Spangler Chief Executive Kirk Vashaw reportedly told the candy site. The Sweethearts brand makes up about 80% of the conversation-heart market, CandyStore.com said, with about 19 million pounds sold each year. It reported conversation hearts edged out heart-shaped boxes of chocolate as the most popular Valentine’s Day candy sold in the U.S. each of the past two years. To be sure, there are other brands that produce conversation hearts; it just might take some leg work to find them. And beware of year-old leftovers — Spangler Candy Co. noted that any Sweethearts currently available on the market were produced prior to July 2018. This article was originally published on Jan. 23, 2019.