An Outlook on Processing Sweet Corn Production from the Last Three Decades (1990s–2010s)

Sweet corn ( Zea mays L. var. rugosa or saccharate ), consumed both fresh and processed (primarily canned frozen), is a popular vegetable crop in the United States. Recent nationwide data have reported declining trends sweet production, which poses serious challenges for US processing producers. Here, we evaluated dataset that represents nearly 3 decades (1992–2018) of commercial production Upper Midwest Pacific Northwest regions an attempt to understand national corn. The objectives this study were (a) quantify (harvest area total green ear mass production); (b) planting date, plant population density, hybrid lifespan; (c) estimate interannual yield deviations yield. Our results reveal hectares, particularly rainfed systems Midwest. For past density dates used by processors remained unchanged. analysis revealed large range (1 20 years) lifespan, can be attributed wide differences stability across diverse environments Rainfed are becoming scarcer because yields under conditions susceptible severe weather, including heat drought stress events. Future research needed as function climatic nonclimatic variables stabilize industry, given predictions future with more frequent weather extremes.