Pick Your Own Corn?

[content]

Does anyone know of a place where we can go to pick our own corn?

Thanks!

[Gratin]

Great to know that you can eat fresh corn uncooked.. I'll miss fresh corn on the cob...

[tbiscaia]

Uncooked corn on the cob is a delicacy to us, as long as they're "young" and not over-ripe. We purposefully left 4 of the 12 out of the cooking pot and it's a toss-up which are better, only you can decide. But definitely don't want to overcook them when they're that fresh.

[peregrine]

When they're that fresh, I steam them. I don't even put them into the boiling water. I have a metal steamer rigged up over a large pot, and a lid. They didn't come as a set. I just figured out what fit. Husk corn while bringing water to a boil, lay corn out in steamer, pour water over corn, cover and steam for a few minutes. Another advantage to this method is that you can leave the second round in the steamer (no fire) while you're eating the first and the second will be nice and warm but not overcooked when you're ready for them.

[tbiscaia]

Actually, that's similar to the way we cook them too. I use a lobster pot, put about an inch of water on the bottom, them place the corn over a stainless steel circular rack that holds the corn just above the water level. Works great, and as you say also keeps the corn warm.

[tdaaa]

Uncooked has a very different flavor and texture - sweeter, almost milky in texture - cooking solidifies each kernel to give a firmer texture. My father claims that corn picked early in the morning is sweeter - when he was a boy he was hired to pick the corn from 5-8 in the morning or some such schedule (yes, it was uphill to school both ways also). I have never tested this theory, but he is a firm believer.

[tbiscaia]

Ok, so it took me a month to get over to Tangerini's but... they DO let you pick your own after all! It may depend on who's manning the store at the time, but if you can get there this is definitely the way to go, best/freshest (obviously) corn I've had this year. Though it's a bit of a walk and some muddy spots due to recent rain, this will be my go-to corn place from now on as long as PYO is allowed.

(There's even worms visible in a some ears, which in my mind is a good thing because it means they didn't pesticide spray the corn patches into oblivion.)

[chowcat]

It's not common for the reasons tbiscaia mentions, but there are a few if you search the web:

Tony Andrews Farm - pick your own Strawberries, Peas, Corn, Tomatoes, pumpkins
394 Old Meetinghouse Road, East Falmouth, MA, 02536. Phone: [phone]. Email: [e-mail]

Busa Farm CSA - pyo corn probably for members only, but worth checking
http://busafarm.com/BusaFarmCSA/
52 Lowell St, East Lexington, MA

Tangerini's Spring Street Farm
http://www.tangerinisfarm.com/
9:00a.m.-7:00p.m.
Millis, MA

C. N. Smith Farm, Inc.
http://www.cnsmithfarminc.com/
East Bridgewater, MA
Open 9am-6:30 pm 781-861-1107

[tbiscaia]

Wow, thanks for that info chowcat! Tangerini's is only a few miles from me, and I called them to verify that they do indeed let you pick your own. I was warned that it would be a good walk out to the fields, but to me it's definitely worth it. We're fanatics about corn freshness (right up there with our bread) just-picked corn is so good that it often doesn't even need to be cooked, I'm really loooking forward to this.

[content]

Thanks so much chowcat! It is one of my dreams to eat corn that I've picked myself. :)

[tbiscaia]

Alas, I was going to head to Tangerini's this morning to pick my own corn, but called first to see if they also head PYO peaches yet (they didn't.) I then asked what do they have for PYO right now, and corn wasn't mentioned so I asked again, and this time was told that they do NOT have PYO corn... oh well.

[tbiscaia]

Now there's an idea, but I doubt that thare are any, since it is a risky proposition to let people, and especially kids, roam through your corn patch/livelyhood. I've actually approached my hometown farm about a membership for such a deal, but he turned it down.

I would definitely pay extra and/or go out of my way for it, if in fact there is such a place anywhere within RT. 495.