Summer’s just around the corner, and for many people, that means barbecues, picnics and dining alfresco. And for a perfect pairing with hot-off-the-grill meals, look no further than fresh-from-Florida sweet corn.
This time of year, our sweet corn is grown across 22,000 acres in southeast Florida, from Lake Okeechobee to Homestead. The climate makes it perfect for growing — longer days allow for sunny skies and warmer temperatures, and because less rain falls this time of year, the growers can control the amount of nutrients the plants receive. These ingredients help the sweet corn develop its sweet-as-sugar flavor.
“We’ve had the same suppliers for years, and they grow the best
varieties,” said Category Manager Paul Keating. “But what really makes our sweet corn stand out from the competition is how fast it goes from field to fork.”
Daily deliveries of sweet corn to our stores help it go from picked to
Publix in two to three days. When sweet corn is at its peak, the ears are
hand-picked and packed in the field. Then, it’s cooled to slow the conversion of sugar to starch — the secret to preserving its flavor.
You don’t need to husk sweet corn to tell if it’s good. Instead, look for
a firm ear with bright, vibrant green stalks. The silks should be fresh — not dry — and the sweet corn should have a pleasant smell. If your sweet corn has these attributes, it will have a sugary sweet flavor.
Florida sweet corn will be promoted At Season’s Peak May 7 – 20, so pick up some ears for an early taste of summer. And for the best flavor, eat the corn within a few days of purchase.
These facts aren’t corny
Florida produces an average of 9 million crates of sweet corn, and each crate holds 48 ears. That’s approximately 432 million ears produced each spring.- Only one ear of sweet corn grows on each stalk.
- Sweet corn grown for human consumption is GMO-free.
- Our produce department carries three varieties of sweet corn: white, yellow and bi-color.
