Recent flooding across central Iowa has created a muddy start to the sweet corn season. At Grimes Sweetcorn, crews are working through the challenging conditions to keep one of Iowa’s favorite summer staples on roadside stands.
Challenging Conditions
Nate Christenson, whose family has operated Grimes Sweetcorn for more than three decades, said that the heavy rain meant some metro stands opened with limited inventory or sold out much earlier than customers expected. The company’s crews had to wade through flooded fields after torrential rain drenched their farmland.
Christenson explained that corn thrives with warm temperatures and moisture, but too much water can hurt the crop. When fields stay saturated, the problem isn’t just muddy footing for harvest crews, but also the fact that corn plants need to breathe and their roots need oxygen.
Despite the challenges, Grimes Sweetcorn expects to keep its stands supplied, although deliveries may be delayed after especially wet mornings while crews navigate muddy fields. Christenson encourages customers to check the company’s Facebook page for updates on stand openings and availability after heavy rain.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
