You can hear the ocean in every piece

Have you ever wondered why coworkers bring back saltwater taffy to share with everyone even when their vacation destinations are completely landlocked? How big is the saltwater taffy industry anyway? Does it have a long and proud tradition of some kind? There must be a microhistory written about Saltwater Taffy. If there isn't, can we persuade Mark Kurlansky of Salt and Cod fame to write it?