"Decorative Corn" Adds Value To Crop

"Decorative Corn" Adds Value To Crop 31-3-6 Two years ago George Hubka found a way to make money marketing corn silk (Vol. 29, No 1). Now the Dowling, Mich., man is marketing ordinary ears of corn as a low cost substitute to Indian Corn. "When we saw the price local retail stores were charging for Indian Corn, my wife and I felt we could provide a lower cost substitute from our field corn crop. We made samples of our product, which we call æDecco Corn', and visited area stores to determine the level of interest and to secure orders for the product. Our Decco Corn creates a high return, value-added product from our corn crop. We hope to increase our gross income to $3,000 plus per acre from our field corn crop." In FARM SHOW's original report, we told how Hubka sells bundles of dried field corn silk packaged in Ziploc bags to ethnic food stores and retail craft shops. The silks are "pulled" from the end of the corn ears before the crop is harvested. Customers buy the corn silk for making tea, art and craft projects, and making holiday decorations. "Decco Corn" consists of three ears of field corn, with the husks attached and tied together in a bundle using colored ribbon. "We market the bundles for 75 cents to stores, which then mark them up to sell at $1.50 retail. Stores sell them for about 50 percent less than Indian Corn," says Hubka. Production requires hand harvesting of the corn ears at maturity after the husk has loosened. "We try to harvest bright colored ears that are filled to the tip," says Hubka. "When picking ears, we make sure that most of the husks are harvested with each ear. Having an adequate quantity and quality of husks with each ear is necessary to make the Decco Corn bundle attractive and durable for hanging up. Once harvested, we store the ears in a well ventilated crib or storage area to prevent molding of the husk prior to bundling." Bundle processing involves three steps. First, the ear is inspected as the husk is pulled toward the butt of the ear to fully expose the kernels. Only ears that have an attractive color and are filled to the tip are selected for placement in the bundling rack, for matching with other ears of the same size. Next, the husks of the various groups of three ears are held tightly as they're securely tied with colored ribbon. Complimentary second colored ribbons can be used and draped down to add attractiveness to the bundle. Last, the finished Decco Corn bundles are packed tip down into delivery boxes for transport to retailers. Regular Decco Corn is marketed during the fall. "To increase marketing we found that painted-on words or logos could be used to customize bundles for schools, universities, and companies. Customized bundles have been displayed in homes and offices, at a community college, at football tailgate parties, and so forth," says Hubka, who was a finalist with the idea in the national Farm Bureau invention contest. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, George Hubka, 3691 Bristol Oaks, Dowling, Mich. 49050 (ph 269 721-3830; geo_mgnews@yahoo.com).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.