(Zea mays)
The evolution of corn to its present form, began over 8,500 years ago in pre-Columbian times. Native peoples carefully selected and cultivated wild teosinte into a sustainable grain. A deeply sacred crop, corn once dominated the nutritional diet of Native groups from the southern tips of Chile and Argentina, to the northern extremes of Lake Huron. However, it wasn’t until 1492, when Columbus landed in Haiti, that Europeans had any idea it even existed. Today, corn has been genetically selected to such an extent that if humankind did not re-plant it each year, it would cease to exist. Tightly clad ears, and a high tendency for genetic depression make it impossible for our favourite corn-on-the-cob to exist as a self-seeding species. To that end, hybrid, super-sweetened, and genetically modified seed now flood the marketplace. As an alternative, we are offering only open-pollinated, heirloom varieties that deliver old-fashioned corn-on-the-cob goodness and flavour.