Worms in Sweet Corn

It's getting to be the time of year in which more worms are found munching on the tops of our sweet corn.  Growing up in the city, I was always told that you wanted the corn with the worm on it because that meant that ear was the sweetest ear.  True or not, I don't know...my mom usually ate that ear.  Some people refuse to take an ear of corn that has a worm in it; we just cut or flick it out (the chickens love them).  I know it's good corn if the worms want it.  We take pride in not spraying our corn with insecticide.  It's not something I would want my children exposed to, so I certainly won't have yours exposed to it either.  The truth of the matter is that ear worms are sprayed for when the corn is in the silk stage.  That is where and when the moths lay their eggs in the silk.  So, this insecticide is sprayed on top of the silk while the ear is inside it being formed.  You may as well pick up the jug and take a sip!  (At least that is my best analogy).  Anyway, I would rather deal with a hundred worms than to leave spray residues on the food we are about to consume.  As is, we only spray our corn for grasses and weeds before the corn is ever out of the ground.    Without that practice we coiuld never grow the quantity of corn that we do. 

Then over the summer some information was re-released about worms in canned and frozen corn.  I decided to look it up (now that we are seeing more worms again) and pass it on.  For those that are concerned when they see a worm on one of our ears, just note that thankfully you can see our worms, you can't see the worms in the canned and frozen corn.  As a result, we freeze our corn (as this is the best tasting and best for us) and I make sure we have enough to last us until the next sweet corn harvest.  Generally I make enough that the pigs end up getting a little treat last spring because we don't eat it all.  

As per the FDA, Canned corn is allowed -- 2 insect larvae per 100 grams.  Or as more specifically written, any insect larvae (corn ear worms, corn borers) longer than 2 or more 3mm or longer larvae, cast skins, larval or cast skin fragments of corn ear worms or corn borer and the aggregate length of such larvae, cast skins, or if the larval or cast skin fragments exceeds 12 mm in 24 pounds (24 No. 303 cans or equivalent) is not allowed.  Anything under that is a-okay.  (Source: http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/Sanitation/ucm056174.htm)

If you want the instructions/recipe for freezing corn, I'd be happy to pass it on.  It came from Dave's grandmother and anyone around here knows how wonderful of a cook she is.  I've heard stories of people eating in shifts because there wasn't enough room for everyone...Dave's out of luck because my cooking will never compare!