A visit to a factory that makes Red Vines (y’know, the red licorice people buy in a huge tub at Costco?) is encapsulated in an article about whether Bay Area manufacturers will survive the current financial situation. Although other candy manufacturers were moving production to Mexico, the American Licorice Company instead invested in new machinery and cut their workforce from 450 to 240. While some may have criticized the layoffs, the alternative was moving the plant entirely. Plant manager John Nelson says licorice is a comfort food that will hold its own during the downtimes. Red licorice outsells black by 10 to 1. (somewhat unrelated bonus YouTube link: Aimee Mann performing “Red Vines”)