... Can I grow my own ? Are seed of this type of maize available anywhere ?

I already know about the strawberry popping corn from Organic Gardening catalogue, but I'm looking for the conventional sort. It has also occurred to me that the corn from the supermarket that I use for popping is the seed of a popping corn, but would it grow here ?

Any advice much welcome !

Supermarket popping corn grows all right, but it's unlikely you'll get it to ripen in our climate. I tried growing it many years ago but it was a poor season and it didn't come to much. It might have if the summer had been better, perhaps. It really needs a long continental summer to fully mature and ripen.