They appear right after Halloween; out with the candy corn and in with the candy canes. Peppermint is a signature flavor of Christmas. But do we really need organic candy canes? How many candy canes does the average person consume during the holidays? Most are given out to children after their visit with Santa at the mall. Adults might stir hot chocolate with one, or have a delicious encounter with candy cane rubble topping peppermint bark. But I suspect that most candy canes hang from tree branches or decorate centerpieces and wreaths. Their sturdiness and stripes make them a graphically and structurally important part of gingerbread house architecture. Whether or not we eat them, it wouldn't seem like Christmas without candy canes.