Blue Corn Company

Blue corn company CROPS New Crops 13-1-27 An Albuquerque, New Mexico company is doing a booming business selling a line of food products made out of "blue corn", an open-pollinated variety of corn that's creating tremendous interest from health food enthusiasts because of its higher nutritional value and richer flavor. Blue corn is an old variety of corn that has been grown for centuries in the Southwest and Mexico for use in tortillas and other corn-based foods. "Some people wonder how we get the blue into the corn," says Ross Edwards, owner. "They think we dye it. We have to assure people it's the natural color. Al-though most people try blue corn the first time because of the novel color, we keep them as customers because of the flavor which is richer, earthier and a little sweeter than regular corn. Blue corn products are whole-grain, but they have a lighter texture than ordinary commercial mixes." The color of blue corn varies from light blue to navy blue. It is up to five times as expensive as yellow corn to raise and is open-pollinated. The yield is only about one third as high as commercial hybrids and it tends to lodge easily before harvest. "Blue corn grows best in the Southwest. It likes a dry climate and suffers wherever it's rainy and humid. There are now about 15,000 acres in production," noting that the company does buy a small portion of its blue corn from Midwest growers. Edwards says the market price for blue corn from Midwest growers. Edwards says the market price for blue corn is quite variable because of the small market. Market price runs from 18 to 25 cents per lb., equal to $10 to $14 per bu. Yield is also variable, from 1,500 to 3,500 lbs. per acre, equal to 27 to 62 bu. per acre. A 2,000 lbs. per acre yield would be equal to about 38 bu. per acre, worth about $532 per acre at the $14 per bu. rate. Seed sells for 25 cents to $1 per lb. and is sold in 50 lbs. bags. Edwards also sells small amounts of seed. A 1 lb. packet sells for $5 and a 5 lb. packet sells for $12. A cookbook containing 20 blue corn recipes is available for $2 if requested separately; $1 when ordered along with other products. If you want to sample blue corn products, two 7-oz. bags of blue corn chips sell for $7.75 post paid. One 28-oz. bag of pancake mix sells for $6 postpaid. A 16-oz. bag of muffin mix sells for $5.25 postpaid. Pop-corn, corn meal, tortillas and other blue corn products are also available. corn, corn meal, tortillas and other blue corn products are also available. For more information, contact FARM SHOW Followup, Blue Corn Connection, 3825 Academy Parkway South N.E., Albuquerque, N.M. 87109 (ph 505 344-9768).

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