Market Minute: Sweet corn ready to make its mark in ad promotions
Market Minute: Sweet corn ready to make its mark in ad promotions
There are roughly 90 million acres of corn grown on the planet, but only 1 percent of that is planted as sweet corn.
Eastern sweet corn prices are dropping on a lighter demand as local grower’s supply retailers with fresh harvested product. Corn can be ordered in wooden crates and bins for retailers to set up some nice farm type displays.
The western sweet corn demand is moderate on a lower market out of the San Joaquin Valley of California.
Corn can be sold loose in husks as well as trimmed and trayed. The display should consist of both packaged corn priced higher to cover the labor and supplies.
Christopher Columbus brought corn seeds back to Europe in 1493 after learning about them from indigenous Americans, and sweet corn has been very popular ever since.
Corn wasn't on display for sale the way it is today in a supermarket produce department mainly because there were no grocery stores in those years; however, the mere fact that corn became a new food item was enough to spread its popularity throughout the world. Once people tasted it, the demand became a normal part of the food business.
In case you didn’t know it, there are 800 kernels in an ear of corn within 16 rows, and each kernel has a long strand of silk.
Make sure you contact your local grower or market supplier to plan some nice summer sweet corn promotions.
Ron Pelger is a produce industry adviser and industry writer. He can be contacted at 775/843-2394 or by e-mail at [email protected].
