Despite the recent proliferation of gray, wet weather, the state’s specialists in early sweet corn production have once again beat other growers throughout the Northeast in bringing sweet corn to Connecticut consumers. Look for it as early as this weekend.
“I began picking very early this morning,” said Tom Baggott of Baggott Family Farms in East Windsor, who uses a combination of plastic and row cover to coax the plants into growing faster and earlier than more traditional field methods. “We’ll have it for sale at our farm stand and will be sending it to a few farmers’ markets this weekend. As supply increases, we’ll begin wholesaling to other farmers in the state to sell at their farm stands before their own fields are ready for picking.”
Sweet corn is a favorite at backyard barbeques and summer parties. Depending on weather, a few farmers in the state using progressive growing techniques offer it for sale for the July 4th holiday weekend. This year, Baggott is the first to harvest. Others anticipate beginning to pick sometime next week or the week after.
“We are very fortunate to have farmers who specialize in these production methods,” said F. Philip Prelli, Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture. “Connecticut residents are treated every year to the earliest—and, in my humble opinion, the very best—sweet corn in New England and all of the Northeast.”
Consumers heading out to farms and farmers’ markets this weekend also are likely to find the first green and yellow summer squash of the season, greenhouse tomatoes, raspberries, and cherries added to the previously available offerings of early season produce, such as lettuce and other greens, herbs, radishes, baby carrots, beets, broccoli, turnips, and strawberries. Many farmers’ markets also offer meat, seafood, cheese and other dairy products, specialty foods, honey, maple syrup, bread, bakery items, fiber, and more.
“Consumers shouldn’t let a few clouds or raindrops scare them away from heading out to the farm or farmers’ market,” Commissioner Prelli said. “Strawberry season is nearly over and we’ll all have to wait another 11 months to get them if we don’t get them now!”
To download the CT Department of Agriculture’s online listing of 2009 farmers’ markets or directory of farm stands and stores, go to www.CTGrown.gov and click on “Publications.”
