How is Corn Grown, Harvested & Packed - The Produce Nerd (2024)

Corn is available year-round in frozen or canned form, but it is important that we also recognize and take advantage of fresh corn while it is in season! This post is all about fresh corn, how corn grows, and how it is harvested and packed. The footage of the night harvest displayed below was taken at Uesugi Farms in Gilroy, California.

How Does Corn Grow?

Corn grows on stalks. Regardless of whether the corn is being grown for the fresh market, processing market, corn silage, a corn maze(!), all corn grows in the same manner. The corn plants go through different growth stages, until they reach the silking stage, where the corn plants, which have both male and female flowers, can self-pollinate.

Why is Corn Harvested at Night?

Corn is harvested at night due to the conditions of the corn stalks. They are approximately six to eight feet tall, and as the workers are harvesting in an area where the temperature can get up to 100°F during the harvesting season, it is preferable to harvest at night when it is cooler. There is also a dust given off by the corn stalks during harvest that is very strong.

Corn Harvesting & Packing

The corn harvesting and packing process is as follows:

1. Breaking down the corn stalks – The tractor attached to the harvesting rig starts out by driving through the corn field to break down the corn stalks. This is done so that the harvesters do not have to walk through six feet tall rows to harvest.
2. Harvesting the corn – Harvesters use a knife to harvest the corn and throw them up to the packing table on the harvesting rig.
3. Box formation – There is a designated worker that makes boxes. On the harvesting rig, the flow is set up so that the boxes are formed at one end, the boxes are packed in the middle and the boxes are transported to the adjacent trailer at the opposite end.
4. Packing the corn – The packers pack the corn into boxes until they are full.
5. Labeling the boxes – The boxes are labeled and passed down the conveyor to be loaded onto the adjacent trailer.
6. Filling the trailer – Once the trailer is full, it is stored at the perimeter of the field. A truck will come to take the trailer to the cooler. In the meantime, another trailer takes its place in the field.

The following video shows the entire process of how sweet corn is harvested for the fresh market. This was a really memorable visit for me because it was the middle of summer, the nighttime air was so fresh and cool, and the workers were so vibrant, but at the same time, I had an itchy throat from the corn fibers in the air. It really gives you great perspective as to how hard these workers are actually working.

Food Safety Considerations

For a fresh corn harvesting and packing operation, some of the main food safety concerns are:

• Cleaning and Sanitation of the harvesting knives– Cleaning and sanitizing of the harvesting knives needs to occur on a regular and frequent basis. In addition to this being on a schedule and controlled by the company, there also needs to be a knife dip to store the knives in while the workers are on break.
• Glove policy – Since gloves are required, there needs to be a glove policy enforced. This means that the gloves are controlled by the company, and that they are either disposable or able to be washed, and are changed out appropriately. If the gloves are washed, the company needs to control the cleaning of the gloves.
• Cleaning and Sanitation of the harvesting rig– Every piece of harvested product touches the harvesting rig between being harvested and packed, so it needs to be cleaned and sanitized to prevent any potential cross-contamination issues to the product.

There are many more items to be taken into consideration, but this is just a brief list to get you thinking about it!

Postharvest Considerations

Sweet corn that is destined for the fresh market has a short shelf-life, and needs to be cooled quickly after harvest and that temperature needs to be maintained throughout transit. (That is another benefit of a night-time harvest in the middle of the summer in California.) Although not shown in this example, corn is commonly hydrocooled and/or the box is packed with ice on top for storage and transport.

Featured Grower Information

I would like to thank Uesugi Farms for the tour and for allowing me to share the gathered material. They were a grower in the Gilroy, California area and have unfortunately gone out of business since my visit.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy:

• Corn Harvesting for Fresh Corn, Processing Corn & Corn Silage
• Bell Pepper Packing
• Napa Cabbage Harvest