It starts showing up in parking lots and roadside stands around July. People rearrange their schedules to get it while it’s fresh. They stand in line, drive miles out of their way, and plan weekend gatherings around it. Some boil. Some grill. Some freeze a dozen bags for winter. Everyone has their way.

It’s inconvenient. More labor-intensive than most foods we buy. And still, Iowans go out of their way for it, year after year.

In this episode, we dig into the literal, emotional, and cultural layers of Iowa’s sweet corn obsession. We trace its history from Indigenous cultivation to a heyday of nearly 60 canning plants across the state. We hear how sweet corn helped one family farm stay afloat during the 1980s farm crisis. And we explore what its enduring popularity reveals about what eaters are willing to do (and spend) for food they believe in.

With voices from the field—including longtime growers, young pickers, and food historian and author Darcy Maulsby—we ask: Could sweet corn be a gateway to a broader shift? One that reconnects Iowans to the land, to local food, and to one another?

Featured Voices

* Darcy Maulsby, author of A Culinary History of Iowa

* Dan Denison, Dan-D Farms (Knoxville, IA)

* Mallory DeVries, Healthy Harvest of North Iowa

Resources

* Grow. Eat. Play. Local Food Recipes & Resources

* Sweet Corn Recipes, Healthy Harvest of North Iowa

* Iowa State University Ag History

Make the Iowa Local Food PromiseJoin Iowans across the state in committing a portion of your food budget to food grown right here in Iowa. The Iowa Local Food Promise is a simple way to support local farmers, strengthen our communities, and keep fresh, nutritious food on our plates. Make the Promise →

Story Sponsor

Special thanks to Healthy Harvest of North Iowa—not only a sponsor, but an IFSC partner in this story and the broader food system work. Together, we’re connecting the dots between producers, markets, and the people they feed.

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