Indian Summer Corn
A New Variety from VegiWorks

By John San Augustin

A new variety of super sweet corn, with unique, dazzling, primary colors randomly positioned by nature will be available for the first time from VegiWorks. It is a project that has been in the works now for the past two years, and is eagerly anticipated in the marketplace. Reminiscent of ornamental dried corn in appearance, the variety is a super sweet, edible bite of delicious heaven.

VegiWorks chose Dick Swank of Swank Farms in Hollister, California to develop the growing techniques needed to produce this variety, which will be available in larger quantities by next August, 2001, for our customers. First year harvest took place this year, August 2000 in very limited quantities, and test marketed for taste, acceptance throughout venues in California and Texas, all with outstanding success.

The seed itself was developed by Harris Moran Seed Company, and represents a hybrid by two parent corns in the test field. The resulting seed is one of a high complex sugar makeup, which will be come evident in one, sweet, delectable bite. Seed breeder Tom Natti of the Harris Moran Seed Company explains the process.

"Every hybrid is done in the field, through a natural selection process by handcrossing varieties. It is not done in a lab, and it is not bio engineered.". He goes on to explain, " You select two varieties, plant the two rows of male, and then two rows of female. A machine takes the tassles off the female parent, so that it cannot pollinate itself. Then the pollen of the male parent is left to pollinate the female plant when the wind comes along and takes it there. Then we harvest the seed from the female plant. It is all done naturally."

The sweet tasting corn is nature at its greatest, bringing you an array of colors representative of the original maize corn that dates back over 5000 years to the continent of South America. Restaurant owners and chefs will delight in its beauty, and rest easy in knowing they are presenting a healthy, natural product to its customers.

Enjoy your sweet corn with plenty of real butter, or with fresh chopped sage or marjoram rubbed on the kernels. Grill it directly over the fire, or bury it among the hot coals and ashes for it to cook. Which ever creative culinary method you use, most ears of corm will release a wonderful fresh scent and yield a taste sensation that is memorable for a lifetime.

Harris Moran Seed Company can be found on the world wide web at www.harrisseed.com, and Tom Natti can be reached at 208 467 6341. John can be reached at VegiWorks at 415 559 1449 or www.vegiworks.com