Sweet corn is the reward Minnesotans deserve for surviving frigid winters, blizzards and the dreary month of March. Although the North Star State is one of the leading states in the production of corn for canning and freezing, in Woodbury, we wait for fresh, locally grown sweet corn still on the cob.
Finding Fresh Sweet Corn in and Near Woodbury
The warm, wet spring portends a good local crop. There are many options for buying those sweet cobs, and each has its defenders, including local farms that specialize in corn, farms that grow it alongside other seasonal vegetables, farmers markets, grocery stores that contract with regional farmers, stands at the ends of driveways where you pay on the honor system and pickup trucks parked on corners.
The following list is comprehensive, but just like a cob of corn with a few missing kernels, it is not complete.
Axdahl’s Garden Farm & Greenhouse occupies its original farm setting with a traditional farm market and greenhouse. It’s one mile north of Highway 36 at the corner of highways 12 and 15. The farm offers its locally famous sweet corn, seasonal fresh vegetables, bedding and landscape plants, vegetable and herb plants and flowering hanging baskets, as well as a large pick-your-own pumpkin patch in the fall.
Hagberg’s Market, 11325 Stillwater Blvd., Lake Elmo, has a tent out front daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with corn grown by 4R Farms in Stillwater.
Rich Valley Farms Too, 8894 Barnes Ave., Inver Grove Heights, offers a greenhouse in the spring. During the summer, the vegetable stand overflows with sweet corn and accompaniments including tomatoes, beans, melons, broccoli, zucchini and more.
Schiltgen Farms is family-operated and specializes in sweet corn and more than 75 varieties of pumpkins and squash. Find the farm at the intersection of Manning Avenue and 30th Street in Afton, on the edge of Woodbury, and at its auxiliary location at the Holiday gas station across from the Washington County Fairgrounds, 4201 Stillwater Way, Lake Elmo.
Tank’s Corner Stand has moved across the street to Lighthouse Baptist Church, 9979 80th St. S., Cottage Grove, because of roundabout construction. The sweet corn is grown on-site, so check the stand’s Facebook page to learn when corn is being picked.
Untiedt’s operates 13 farm stands across the metro area. These are the folks who grow the special variety of corn served at the Corn Roast booth at the Minnesota State Fair. The closest location is 2149 Cliff Road, Eagan.
Zywiec’s Garden Center, 10900 E. Point Douglas Road S., Cottage Grove, offers sweet corn in season from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Farmers Markets
Besides offering multiple vendors, many Minnesota farmers markets participate in programs that provide additional food-buying assistance for people receiving benefits such as SNAP. Stop at the information booth to ask about matching funds through Market Bucks so you can afford plenty of corn and other fresh food for your family.
Woodbury Farmers Market is located at Red Rock Elementary School, 3311 Commonwealth Ave., and is open Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Larger vendors, including Utechts Home Grown Pork and Costa’s, plant throughout the spring so they will have fresh corn until after the State Fair, while smaller growers sell corn alongside tomatoes and other seasonal vegetables.
St. Paul Farmers’ Market, 290 E. Fifth St., Lowertown, sells produce grown within a 100-mile radius, so no bananas, but lots of sweet corn, as well as prepared foods, bedding plants, herbs, trout, vinegars, cheese, honey, meats, eggs, maple syrup, flowers, crafts and more. Come for the corn, stay to hear local musicians. The market is open Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cottage Grove UCC Farmers Market runs Thursdays from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Cottage Grove United Church of Christ, 7008 Lamar Ave. S. Corn, grilled brats and hot dogs, ice cream, root beer floats, egg rolls, food trucks and vendors, honey, eggs, cut flowers, knife sharpening, breads, pies, canned goods, hot sauce and freeze-dried foods make it easy to pick up everything you need for a summer supper.
Lake Elmo Farmers Market is now at its new location at the Washington County Fairgrounds, 12398 43rd St., Stillwater, with even more room for corn, baked goods, candles, books, vegetables, eggs, flowers, crafts, body products and special youth vendors. The market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mahtomedi Farmers’ Market features a variety of farm-grown vegetables, including corn, fresh-cut flowers, baked goods, eggs, berries, plants, meat and handcrafted items. The market runs Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon at Veterans Memorial Park, formerly Triangle Park, 93 Mahtomedi Ave.
Oakdale Farmers Market offers fresh corn and other locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods and more, including a weekly drawing for a basket of market goodies. This midweek farmers market is located at Richard Walton Memorial Park, 1584 Hadley Ave. N., and runs Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m.
