EPSOM, N.H. — Michele Holbrook’s cheery demeanor matches her gourmet popcorn shop, Michele’s Sweet Shoppe. She offers samples of a popcorn tossed in dark chocolate and coconut, then drizzled with white chocolate, or a confection of honey mesquite barbecue.

There seems to be popcorn everywhere. Next to the Burlington Mall food court, Heather Berlin generously shares samples from Corn & Co, where she is a co-owner: wasabi-flavored popcorn tossed with wasabi peas for extra heat, or, on the sweet side, s’mores, which is caramel popcorn mixed with chocolate, marshmallows, and cinnamon-toasted cereal.