Everyone loves sweet corn, but can you make money on it? This pod episode sets out to answer the age-old question, and shine light on the best practices that will give growers the best chance of being profitable with this summer favorite. We also discuss whether sweet corn can function as a “loss leader,” i.e. come for the sweet corn, stay for the tomatoes and salad mix theory that might justify growing it at a loss to get customers in the door (or the farmers market stand, as the case may be).

This podcast episode is a complement to Dan’s article in the January Growing for Market Magazine, “Sweet corn without chemicals: can the early bird beat the (ear)worm?” But we didn’t want Dan to have to repeat everything he said in the article, so the article is linked below in the show notes. Though the article covers most of the basics for early and profitable sweet corn production, we cover some additional pests, sweet corn types, and ideas that we didn’t have space for in the article.

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Dan’s article in the January 2026 Growing for Market Magazine:

Sweet corn without chemicals: can the early bird beat the (ear)worm?

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