This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = sweet_corn(GDF v2.0, 3242 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Sweet Corn |
| Scientific name | Zea mays var. saccharata |
| Family / Genus | Poaceae / Zea |
| Produce category | Other |
| Produce subcategory | Grain Vegetable |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4078 |
| PLU — organic | 94078 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_1975 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 450.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Queen | 12.5% | White kernels, sweet flavor, 14-16 rows, 92 days maturity. Industry standard for white sweet corn with excellent eating quality and consistent performance. |
| Peaches and Cream | 15% | Bicolor (yellow/white kernels), exceptional sweetness, 16-18 rows, 83 days maturity. Most popular bicolor variety with outstanding flavor profile. |
| Honey Select | 10% | Yellow kernels, triple-sweet (shrunken-2 gene), 16-18 rows, 79 days maturity. Superior sugar retention and extended shelf life. |
| Bodacious | 9% | Yellow kernels, sugary enhanced (se), 18-20 rows, 75 days maturity. Widely grown commercial variety with excellent yield and creamy texture. |
| Incredible | 7.5% | Yellow kernels, synergistic (sy) type, 18 rows, 85 days maturity. Very sweet with tender kernels, excellent fresh market appeal. |
| Ambrosia | 8% | Bicolor, sugary enhanced, 16-18 rows, 75 days maturity. Premium bicolor with excellent eating quality and heat tolerance. |
| Golden Bantam | 2% | Yellow kernels, 8 rows, 80 days maturity. Classic heirloom with rich corn flavor, smaller ears but excellent taste. Popular at farmers markets. |
| Providence | 6% | Bicolor, synergistic, 16 rows, 73 days maturity. Early bicolor with excellent cold soil tolerance for early markets. |
| Obsession | 7% | Yellow kernels, sugary enhanced, 18-20 rows, 87 days maturity. High-yielding commercial variety with excellent husk coverage and tip fill. |
| Mirai | 5.5% | Yellow/bicolor varieties, supersweet (sh2), 16-18 rows, 82-85 days. Japanese breeding with exceptional sweetness and extended shelf life. |
| Argent | 4.5% | White kernels, sugary enhanced, 16 rows, 75 days maturity. Premium white sweet corn with tender kernels and excellent flavor. |
| Stowell’s Evergreen | 1% | White kernels, 16 rows, 95 days maturity. Historic heirloom (1848) with large ears, still grown for traditional corn flavor. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 32°F.
- Freezing point: 30.9°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 5 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 1.5 μL C2H4/kg·h typical (0.5–3) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 100 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Sweet corn quality degrades rapidly from metabolic activity (sugar to starch conversion) rather than ethylene exposure. Immediate cooling is critical.
Mixed-load compatibility
Group 1 - High moisture vegetables requiring cold and high humidity
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? Yes
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Stable to slight decline in conventional; growing demand for organic and non-GMO varieties; increased interest in premium bi-color and specialty varieties; year-round availability shifting consumption patterns
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.65 |
| Income elasticity | 0.35 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.85 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Yellow Sweet Corn | 72% |
| White Sweet Corn | 15% |
| Bi-Color Sweet Corn | 11% |
| Specialty/Heirloom | 2% |
Pack sizes
- 48-count carton
- 50-count carton
- 60-count carton
- 4-count consumer pack
- 6-count consumer pack
- 8-count consumer pack
- 5-dozen bulk carton
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T23:50:00.000Z.