Florida is the nation’s largest producer of fresh sweet corn, but that doesn’t mean we should rest on our husks.University of Florida plant geneticist Kevin Folta has spent his career doing just the opposite. For more than two decades, Folta has worked to continually improve the Sunshine State’s signature crop. In doing so, he’s also tackled one of agriculture’s toughest challenges: climate change.Folta and his team have developed more than 100 new varieties of sweet corn. Those varieties are now grown not only across the U.S., but in more than 60 countries around the world. It hasn’t been easy. Sweet corn is naturally vulnerable to pests, diseases and environmental stresses. Those challenges are compounded by the fact that sweet corn is grown in a wide range of conditions, from the hot, humid climate of Florida to the cooler, drier climate of the Midwest.Folta’s secret? .
LifeStyle: From Florida To The World, Sweet Corn Gets An Upgrade
