Corn (Maize), is one of North America’s greatest contributions to the food world.
Originating from a species of wild grass discovered in Mexico over 9,000 years ago, the hybrid / sweet corn we enjoy today is the result of thousands of years of selective breeding and cultivation.
Corn is now grown on 6 of the 7 continents on earth and is, in fact, the largest food crop in America, due in large part to its many uses, from animal feed to producing ethel alcohol, corn starch, corn syrup, corn meal, and of course, the sweet corn we enjoy at our kitchen table.
Unfortunately, corn doesn’t grow in cold climates, such as Michigan’s weather from November thru early April.
It does however, grow in our warmer, Southern states, and is a valuable cash crop for many farmers when we here, in the Northern states need our corn “fix” in early spring.
Within the produce growing and grocery buying community, the term “Corn Ladder” refers to the northerly geographic, state by state progression of market available fresh, sweet corn (on the cob) beginning at the “lowest rung”, Florida, and then, over weeks and months, climbing the seasonally available rungs of this “ladder”, state by state, until reaching the “top rung”, when our corn here in Michigan, is first harvested.
Typically, Florida’s corn is first seen in our area in late as early as late April, then we see Georgia grown corn, South Carolina, Indiana/Ohio and finally, it’s ready to be harvested and enjoyed by us here in Michigan, in late July.
Why is Michigan Sweet Corn so good?
There are a number of good reasons, which include the hybrids grown in each state but one of the biggest reasons is that Michigan corn gets to our stores, in many cases, within hours of their harvest.
An example is one of Southeast, Michigan’s most well-known growers, Ruhlig Farms, located in Carleton, Michigan, which is no more than 30 minutes away from Cattleman’s stores.
An evening harvest of corn is often at Cattleman’s the next morning. This is so very important as corn’s very nature is to convert its internal sweetness into starch, hour by hour, day by day.
Freshly picked corn, is at its peak sweetest the moment it is snapped off the stalk.
Chef’s here in Michigan, begin thinking about recipes using Michigan’s FABULOUS Sweet Corn as early as late July through Mid-September, when it is at its peak sweetness and flavor.
Below are 6 of our favorite Michigan Sweet Corn Recipes for you to enjoy this corn season. All available on our website, just click on anyone of these recipe names and we’ll take you right to the recipe for you to enjoy!
