Community Sweet Corn Project Helps Feed Thousands
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Thanks to a Fort Morgan, Colo., farm family, dozens of volunteers, and business sponsors, area people who use food shelves or eat at soup kitchens enjoy a rare treat - fresh sweet corn. In 2018, about 130 volunteers picked and packed more than 100,000 ears of corn in 4 hrs. Thirty-one bagged and shrink-wrapped pallets of sweet corn filled two Food Bank of the Rockies refrigerated semi-trailers to distribute throughout the region.
Bruce Postovit, who sells seed and works for Bayer, and his farming friend, Mike Kosman, first teamed up for the project in 2012. Postovit had participated in his church’s “gleaning the fields” where volunteers pick leftover vegetables after harvest and donate them to food pantries.
“I thought why not grow a whole crop for charity,” Postovit says. “I asked Mike if he was willing to grow corn and he didn’t hesitate at all.”
After Kosman died of cancer at 56 in 2015, his family continued the project.
“We keep it going in memory of Dad,” says Austin Kosman, who farms with his brother, Alex, their mother, Kerri, and sister, Jamie. “Bayer provides the seed. We provide the land, irrigation and fertilizer.”
Last year the Kosmans planted more than in previous years - 4 acres of a yellow/white variety of sweet corn in 36 1,500 ft. rows on the edge of an irrigated silage corn field. There are no cross pollination issues because pollination times are different. By early August, the corn was ready to pick.
Postovit organizes volunteers - some who pick the corn and fill mesh bags (80-100 ears/bag), and others who move the bags to workers who stack and shrink-wrap pallets. Also, key to the project are business donors for everything from seed to bags to a barbecue meal for volunteers.
“But what makes it doable is the Food Bank of the Rockies, a nonprofit that serves to food banks in the region,” Postovit says.
Having a large number of volunteers is also crucial. Many hands sped up the 2018 harvest, which was important considering the heat and humidity of the day.
Postovit’s son, Adam, has started a similar project near Omaha, Neb., and Postovit would like to see it copied in more regions of the country.
“I have a template and can give a step-by-step approach to anyone who is interested,” he offered.
“It’s turned into a big community thing,” Kosman adds. “It takes everyone to do it.”
The project is like a memorial for the Kosman family, paying tribute to Mike Kosman with a worthwhile charitable venture.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bruce Postovit, 11395 Canterberry Lane, Parker, Colo. 80138 (ph 720 201-6287; bruce.postovit@bayer.com).
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Community Sweet Corn Project Helps Feed Thousands CROPS Miscellaneous Thanks to a Fort Morgan Colo farm family dozens of volunteers and business sponsors area people who use food shelves or eat at soup kitchens enjoy a rare treat - fresh sweet corn In 2018 about 130 volunteers picked and packed more than 100 000 ears of corn in 4 hrs Thirty-one bagged and shrink-wrapped pallets of sweet corn filled two Food Bank of the Rockies refrigerated semi-trailers to distribute throughout the region Bruce Postovit who sells seed and works for Bayer and his farming friend Mike Kosman first teamed up for the project in 2012 Postovit had participated in his church’s “gleaning the fields” where volunteers pick leftover vegetables after harvest and donate them to food pantries “I thought why not grow a whole crop for charity ” Postovit says “I asked Mike if he was willing to grow corn and he didn’t hesitate at all ” After Kosman died of cancer at 56 in 2015 his family continued the project “We keep it going in memory of Dad ” says Austin Kosman who farms with his brother Alex their mother Kerri and sister Jamie “Bayer provides the seed We provide the land irrigation and fertilizer ” Last year the Kosmans planted more than in previous years - 4 acres of a yellow/white variety of sweet corn in 36 1 500 ft rows on the edge of an irrigated silage corn field There are no cross pollination issues because pollination times are different By early August the corn was ready to pick Postovit organizes volunteers - some who pick the corn and fill mesh bags 80-100 ears/bag and others who move the bags to workers who stack and shrink-wrap pallets Also key to the project are business donors for everything from seed to bags to a barbecue meal for volunteers “But what makes it doable is the Food Bank of the Rockies a nonprofit that serves to food banks in the region ” Postovit says Having a large number of volunteers is also crucial Many hands sped up the 2018 harvest which was important considering the heat and humidity of the day Postovit’s son Adam has started a similar project near Omaha Neb and Postovit would like to see it copied in more regions of the country “I have a template and can give a step-by-step approach to anyone who is interested ” he offered “It’s turned into a big community thing ” Kosman adds “It takes everyone to do it ” The project is like a memorial for the Kosman family paying tribute to Mike Kosman with a worthwhile charitable venture Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bruce Postovit 11395 Canterberry Lane Parker Colo 80138 ph 720 201-6287; bruce postovit@bayer com
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