Norfolk County's Sweet Corn Harvest Booms Amid Recent Heat Wave

Strategic Insights -

The recent heat wave in Norfolk County, Ontario has brought the sweet corn harvest to a head, with fields being harvested at a faster pace than usual. Farmers in the region attribute the early start to the area's sandy soil, which allows for better drainage and faster warming. This gives Norfolk County a head start on the sweet corn harvest compared to neighboring Haldimand County, where the hard-packed clay soil takes longer to warm up.

Key Takeaways:

  • Farmer Charles Welsh of Welsh Bros. said the warm weather is bringing the corn on, with the harvest starting on July 8, about average and a week later than last year.
  • Welsh Bros. corn comes in two varieties, peaches and cream and classic yellow, and is only sold wholesale to local farm markets and the Ontario Food Terminal in Toronto.
  • Gunther's Sweet Corn in Port Rowan started roadside sales on Wednesday, with Haldimand's go-to spot for sweet corn, Snyder's, scheduled to start its harvest on July 25.
  • Early reviews of Welsh Bros.' sweet corn are glowing, with the farmer himself saying everyone likes the first ones, but the flavor and quality stand up throughout the season.
  • Welsh Bros.' harvest has been running smoothly so far, with the farmer saying they eat nothing but sweet corn for three months to ensure quality.
  • The region's sandy soil gives Norfolk County a head start on the sweet corn harvest compared to neighboring Haldimand County, where the hard-packed clay soil takes longer to warm up.

Statistics:

  • The heat wave in Norfolk County propelled the sweet corn harvest to a head, with fields being harvested at a faster pace than usual.
  • The harvest at Welsh Bros. started on July 8, which is about average and a week later than last year's start date of July 2.
  • The region's sandy soil allows for better drainage, with the soil warming up more quickly, which gives Norfolk County a head start on the sweet corn harvest.
  • The first pick of sweet corn at Welsh Bros. was on July 8, with the harvest expected to last for several months.

Sources:

  • The Spectator
  • The Spectator's Facebook page
  • J.P. Antonacci's reporting, funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.