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His Colorful Corn Is Picture Perfect
Jason Karl wants to share the wonders of tropical corn with the world and make it feasible to grow them in cooler climates. The Cornell University genetic engineering graduate has been collecting and breeding/crossing all types of corn to grow in New York State and photographing his colorful harvests.
Varieties come from the 20,000+ USDA collection of seeds.
�I went through tons of photos and got some amazing ones,� he says.
There�s a rainbow of lustrous colors, including green, purple, and pink. Kernel sizes vary from pinhead tiny to 1-in. diameter. Shapes can be claw-like or round.
Besides being beautiful, the corn is edible, from flour and flint to corn that can be popped or eaten as sweet corn when soft.
To grow varieties that get 12 hrs. of sun in the tropics, Karl crossbreeds with northern varieties. He often chooses tropical varieties that grow in fewer days. It�s labor-intensive work, with hand pollinating and covering tassels to avoid cross-contamination.
Though he�s not sure where his work will lead him, he�s found a way to share the beauty of the corn.
�It�s like artwork, and an artist friend suggested going through the Fine Art website,� Karl says.
Artists provide images that the online business can print or put on mugs, phone cases, puzzles, T-shirts, or other apparel�perfect for people who grow corn or just appreciate its beauty. Customers click on the image they want and are given options.
Karl invites anyone interested in tropical corn varieties to contact him.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jason Karl, 3885 5 Mile, Allegany N.Y. 14706 (ph 585-376-4440; jrk36@cornell.edu; https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/2-jason-karl).


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2024 - Volume #48, Issue #4