Lack of Knowledge Driving Consumers to Throw Out Good Sweet Corn

Aug 07, 2012

Drought Conditions Causing Consumers to Toss Out Unfilled Corn Cobs

After going into a large grocery store chain near Toronto, I was shocked to see the waste surrounding the sweet corn counter.

This particular grocery store, like many others was allowing consumers to choose which corn cobs that they wanted to include in their bag to purchase. This consumer service option is typical for sweet corn allowing people to husk the corn in the store. However, with the drought conditions effecting this year’s corn development the crenels haven’t filled the cob resulting in unfilled corn cob ends and smaller than normal cobs which are features less desirable to the consumer. With this in mind, the waste generated from corn cobs being tossed, thrown away among the husks because they lack visual appeal is a case of misinformation. This unfortunate reaction by the urban consumer has resulted in good corn being discarded.

(Photo showing discarded corn among husks in a grocery store waste bucket.)

What are the solutions?

Grocery stores could prepackage corn, so that the consumer gets 6-10 cobs wrapped up in a bag prohibiting consumer selected choice. But would this mitigate the waste? Well, maybe it would but it could also result in the consumer throwing out the cob at home instead of at the store.

Importance of educating the consumer

The act of throwing out good corn would infuriate many farmers whose hard work went into growing that corn but fell short of consumer standards because of factors out of the farmers control – drought. Agriculture advocates this is your turn – help the agriculture community educate the consumer by telling your family and friends and anyone that you know that when purchasing sweet corn this year it will be common to find unfilled corn but to know that there is nothing wrong with the corn, it’s safe and will still taste good. Take the time to explain that drought is the driving factor in unfilled corn – don’t waste it. Let’s stop and think before we discard good food!

What’s your opinion? How can grocery stores mitigate waste from this year’s sweet corn?

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