I like produce. I like to grow it and I like to eat it. Plus I like to create recipes with it. I’m also kind of a nerd and like to get to know my produce. I like learning new or fun tidbits of info about the produce I’m growing/eating/baking. If you’re a weirdo like me then I hope these facts are as interesting to you as they are to me.
1. In the U.S we characterize corn as a vegetable, however in many parts of the world {and on many nutrition charts} corn is considered a grain.
2. Corn grown outside North America, Australia, and New Zealand means any cereal crop. Maize is the more formal and internationally recognized name for corn. So should we start calling it popmaize?
3. Native Americans taught the European settlers how to grow and prepare corn. For some time it was thought the Native Americans also taught them how to prepare popcorn, which the settlers ate as a breakfast cereal with milk and maple syrup. {But that myth was totally debunked, and you can read about it HERE}. I’m all about ice cream for breakfast, but popcorn?
4. Corn is the 3rd most produced crop in the world, behind only wheat and rice, but in terms of planted acres, it’s second only to wheat.
Savory Garlic and Herb Corn recipe
5. An average ear of corn has 800 kernels arranged in 16 rows and there is actually one piece of silk for EVERY kernel.
6. One bushel of corn can make 2.5 gallons of ethanol fuel, 33 pounds of sweetener or 32 pounds of starch. Wowza!
Cheesy Zucchini and Corn Casserole recipe
7. Fresh corn on the cob will lose up to 40% of its sugar content after about 6 hours of room temperature storage. After that time period, the sugar is converted to starch.
8. Corn is used for many nonfood items. Fireworks, plastics, fabrics, aspirin, antibiotics, glue, paint, laundry detergent, soap, paint, ink, cosmetics and just a few.
Roasted Corn Salad with Tomatoes and Feta recipe
9. Back in the day a farmer could only harvest 100 bushels of corn per day by hand. Modern day technology produced a combine that can harvest 900 bushels of corn per hour or 100 bushels of corn in under 7 minutes! Talk about revolutionized farming. Sheesh!
10. The corn we eat is “sweet corn” (white, yellow or bi-colored), which has become even sweeter since scientists began breeding varieties with more sugar.
Cornbread Spoon Pudding recipe
Had you heard any of those fun facts before? Do you have any of your own to add? Is there a particular produce item you’re just wanting to know more about? I take requests!
Grow on,
Mavis
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