We begin planting spring sweet corn in mid-February and continue in small-acre plantings through the end of April. Our fall crop is planted in late July through the end of August. We utilize conservation tillage as often as conditions allow.
A few days after planting, the sweet corn plants begin to emerge.
When the corn begins to show its tassel emerging from the whorl, we know we are a few weeks from harvest.
Sweet corn is a self-pollinating crop - the tassel pollinates the ear of corn as it develops on the stalk.
With careful management and nutrition, the ears of the corn develop and fill out.
We grow both bi-color (pictured above) and yellow sweet corn.
Prior to harvest, we “top” the sweet corn, removing the tassels with a machine. This makes it much easier to hand-harvest.
We are harvesting steadily from mid-May through the Fourth of July for our spring harvest, and early October - mid-November for our fall harvest. A crew of 40-50 people works on a machine called a “mule train” to slowly hand-harvest our sweet corn in the field, one planting at a time.
The mule train is hooked to a field truck, where the crew loads the sweet corn. The field truck delivers the corn to a precooler, where the corn is prepared for shipment.
We pack our corn into wood crates, reusable plastic containers, and sustainers. Each crate has approximately 48 ears.
Once harvested, our sweet corn is shipped throughout the United States and Canada to grocery stores, farmers markets, and food distributors.
Our favorite way to cook fresh sweet corn is as simple as it can be. Shuck the corn. Fill a pot with water, covering the corn. Bring the corn to a boil. Boil for two minutes (only two!). Serve with butter and salt.