Thanks to a record-hot and dry spring on the East Cape, our sweetcorn will be hitting supermarkets early this year.
The first corn fields were planted in early August and are expected to mature by the week of Christmas. However, this year, our first cobs will be in store at the end of the week, two weeks earlier than scheduled.
Gordon McPhail, General Manager of Farming, says that sweetcorn thrives in hot weather, and Mother Nature has delivered in abundance this year. In fact, this is the first time in several years that LeaderBrand will be planting and harvesting corn in the same week.
“This spring, the weather is breaking records on the East Cape, which has been perfect for our corn and melon crops. The high temperature and long days are ideal for producing creamy corn packed with sweetness.
“The last couple of years, we haven’t really needed to use our irrigation systems. This year, it’s been in constant use and the whole team here have been busy doing a fantastic job looking after the crops. It’s a nice alternative after a couple of years of what felt like permanent rain,” he says.
Sweetcorn is one of New Zealanders’ favourite vegetables and always pushes strawberries off the number one spot when it hits stores.
“We’re delighted to be able to supply our sweetcorn early this year. The versatility of corn makes it a popular choice for family dinners, especially because it’s particularly kid-friendly!
“We pride ourselves on our corn grown here in Gisborne. Our aim is to grow beautiful green husks packed with fat, sweet, yellow kernels. We harvest by hand, so we’re able to select the best maturity and quality, while reducing any damage. We’re also hand selecting cobs for maturity, quality, and to reduce damage in the field.
“As soon as it leaves the field, we chill it immediately in our state of the art forced air cooling facility. This locks in the freshness, bringing core temperatures down to below 5 degrees celcius. Then we make sure it reaches your local supermarket the day after it leaves our fields, chilled the whole way to make sure you’re getting the freshest corn on the market,” says Gordon.
We’ve been growing corn for more than 20 years, and Gordon suggests that when buying corn, you should look for husks that are reasonably dark green, cobs that are full and round, and check that the kernels go all the way to the top of the cob.
“Also, check that the tassels are golden brown. This is another sign kernels have matured. Every one of the little tassels or silks connects to an individual kernel and this is how they are pollinated” he says.
Carmel Ireland from 5 + A Day says that corn not only tastes great but is good for you as well.
“We encourage Kiwis to buy a rainbow of vegetables, and corn is an easy and tasty way to get more colours into your diet. Corn is packed with antioxidants and great for gut health. It’s also a good source of fibre, a source of folate and vitamin C. It’s an easy way to add one more vegetable to your diet, especially as it gets the family seal of approval.”
LeaderBrand sweetcorn, grown in sunny Gisborne, will be in your local supermarket this week. Make sure you grab some today.