#heirloom corn

[peace-and-awe]

glass gem corn

insta: readytorach

[probablyasocialecologist]

Why the "nostalgic flavor" of this heirloom corn is causing a resurgence

Farmers holding on to heirloom strains for generations are finding a niche as more consumers seek organic produce.

Vargas is among farmers in Mexico who’ve been holding on to heirloom strains for generations, against a flood of industrially produced white corn. They’re finding a niche but increasing market among consumers seeking organic produce from small-scale growers and chefs worldwide who want to elevate or simply provide an authentic take on tortillas, tostadas and other corn-based pillars of Mexican food. Corn is the most fundamental ingredient of Mexican cuisine, and it’s never far from the national conversation. Amid President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s move to ban the importation of genetically modified corn and his imposition of a 50% tariff on imported white corn, some scientists, chefs and others are advocating for the value of the old varieties in an increasingly drought-stricken world. Heirloom varieties make up far less than 1% of total domestic corn production in Mexico. But for the first time in years, Vargas and others are hopeful about the crop. Some in the academic and public sectors hope to increase its production.

[...]

Across Mexico, about 60,000 tons of heirloom corn is produced annually. It’s a tiny fraction of the 23 million tons of white corn grown on an industrial scale to meet domestic demand for human consumption and the 16.5 million tons of yellow corn that Mexico imported last year — mostly from the U.S. — for industrial and animal feed use.

[lightbluefoods]

[ipromisetostaywild]

[natureisthegreatestartist]

What in the world is this? It’s some of the ornamental corn I just harvested from my garden. I love the pearly quality of this heirloom variety, which is called ‘Glass Gem.’ Pretty, yes?

[petula-xx]

Painted Mountain Corn seeds sprouting (4 days old).

Painted Mountain Corn is meant to be cold tolerant. Corn and potatoes are meant to be good companion plants. So I’m running an experiment.

Today these little babies got planted into the raised bed where some seed potatoes were planted a couple of weeks ago. My hope is that I will be able to harvest a crop of early corn and the spuds in late Spring. Leaving enough time to renew the bed, re sow with pumpkins and another crop of corn in early Summer. The experiment begins.

Over to you little seed babies.......

[sister-garden]

i’m so excited to plant this corn next year - one single ear given to me by mari omland of green mountain girls farm. 

[filth-of-mankind]

Heirloom corn