# Why does an ear of corn cost so much at the grocery store or farmers market **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 15, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017 "2016-11-15T00:34:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/21 "2016-11-15T19:39:57Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > This thread is so corny. There’s a kernel of truth in that statement. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/22 "2016-11-15T19:49:11Z")
If you live where they grow it and it’s in season, it’s practically free. Not surprising the price gets jacked up out of season or if it needs to be shipped long distances. Not sure I could bring myself to spend a dollar per ear though, and I have seen that price. It’s usually crap corn to boot. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/23 "2016-11-15T20:14:28Z")
I could get a dozen ears for $5 locally at roadside stands this past season. Top notch stuff too. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/24 "2016-11-15T21:23:13Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > There’s a kernel of truth in that statement. What the fruct is it with all these puns! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/25 "2016-11-15T21:37:33Z")
Saw an episode of Shark Tank recently with a guy who wanted to make high quality tortilla chips using sweet corn. All the sharks loved the chips but his costs were 3 times higher than common tortilla chips made from feed corn. Sweet corn has a short shelf life, it degrades in quality as soon as it’s picked. Lower yield per acre for sweet corn was already mentioned. All feed corn will get dried or processed and used somehow, sweet corn that doesn’t sell at the market gets thrown away. The Select, Choice, and Prime meat you can buy at the grocery or butcher shop costs a lot more than the canning grade stuff also. People pay more for fresh unprocessed food because it looks and tastes better. Once processed those are less important factors and lower grade product can be used. There’s a reason a quality TBone costs more than hot dogs per pound. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/26 "2016-11-15T21:48:55Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > What the fruct is it with all these puns! I know–to get at the solid info you have to navigate a maize of jokes. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/27 "2016-11-15T21:59:08Z")
Enough with the _ad hominy_ ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/28 "2016-11-15T22:01:42Z")
You can all kiss my grits. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/29 "2016-11-15T22:21:11Z")
Or we can behave like adults and stalk this through ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/30 "2016-11-15T22:33:37Z")
You guys and your smooth as silk humor… ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/31 "2016-11-15T22:39:26Z")
This board is only a husk of what it once was. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/32 "2016-11-15T23:11:37Z")
I’m just amaize . . . No, no, can’t do it. Sorry. Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/33 "2016-11-15T23:21:44Z")
Don’t want to go against the grain, eh? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/34 "2016-11-15T23:33:20Z")
Aw, shucks! This thread has really gone to seed. It’s downright earie all the bad puns. Tassels and tassels of 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/35 "2016-11-15T23:37:13Z")
Maybe we need a fresh startch? I can tortilla get down with that! ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/36 "2016-11-16T00:19:07Z")
It’s impressive to see how many jokes can be cobbled together for chicken feed. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/37 "2016-11-16T00:21:17Z")
Each and every one of you have made The List. Congratulations. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/38 "2016-11-16T01:14:59Z")
Laughing at thread and my voice has gone all husky. > [@kanicbird](#): > > Still cost the same to transport and stock and display as any other product. Fresh corn cobs vs dried corn kernels? No. Fresh ears of corn will be transported in stryrofoam cartons which will be hand packed rather than moving by multiple tonne lots via bulk trucks and conveyors. They will probably use refrigerated transport and storage. There will be considerable wastage in the supply chain to store. Any cob that is damaged or shows sign of spoilage will be unsaleable at the retail end. Drop a bag of feed corn and the only problem is having to pick it up again. Once on display the product will have a shelf life of a day, maybe 2. Compare the retail cost of corn kernels in the form of packs for popping vs fresh on the cob. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/39 "2016-11-16T02:56:08Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I could get a dozen ears for $5 locally at roadside stands this past season. Top notch stuff too. Friends, Romans and fellow countrymen…lend me your cheap ears! ---
**Author:** ![Mrdeals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017/40 "2016-11-16T03:23:22Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > So much = $0.25-0.50. I’ve heard some quotes as high as $1 an ear. > > A bushel of corn is about $3.60, which is 56 pounds. > > At some rural farm supply stores, a 50 lb bag of feed corn for livestock is $6-8. > > So why is an ear $0.25 or more (usually a bit more, closer to $0.50), when a 50 lb bag of corn is $7? The bag of corn requires extra processing over the ear of corn. Plus with an ear of corn, only a % of the weight of the corn is actual kernels. > > Supposedly there are 60 ears of corn in a bushel. That works out to $0.06 an ear straight from the farm. > > Are there added costs other than transportation to the market? When we get ears of corn in at my grocery store we sell for $1 per dozen ($0.08 ear) but i’m buying them on the liquidation market. The thing about corn is that the ears of corn look good out on display for about 3 hours (seriously) the outside starts to dry out and look terrible, nobody will buy it no matter how cheap it is. So i would think a regular store needs to work in some high throwaway percentages in order to even think about coming out ahead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-an-ear-of-corn-cost-so-much-at-the-grocery-store-or-farmers-market/772017.md?page=3)