Client Blog

New York goes crazy for “Mirai® Gour-Maize” – the sweet corn taste of the future!

ROCHESTER, NY –  Sure, we’ve had the long, hot days, and even fireworks on the Fourth of July. But summer isn’t really here until you take that first bite, whether dripping with butter and salt or crisp and fresh from the stalk. For many of us, it’s the first, flavorful crunch into an ear of sweet corn that tells us that summer has finally arrived.

Here in the Rochester region, a group of growers and local restaurants are putting a new spin on a longtime American favorite.  “Mr. Mini Mirai” is an extra-sweet sweet corn varietal that packs a flavor punch out of all proportion to its petite size of just five to six inches—a size that, according to Harris Seeds President Richard Chamberlin (535-935-7015), allows it to stand out above the competition. “Mr. Mini Mirai is truly a gourmet corn,” Chamberlin said. “The flavor is excellent; it eats as good as anything out there. But it also has a serious advantage—it fits on a plate.”

Crystal Barn Restaurant owner George Gerakos also appreciates the unique flavor and size of Mr. Mini Mirai. “We like it, and our customers really like it,” said Gerakos. “It is smoother, sweeter, and more moist.”

The popularity of “Mr. Mini Mirai,” like that of its full-size counterpart, “Mirai-Gour-Maize,” has grown exponentially in recent years, establishing world-wide demand, particularly in flavor-focused Japan. Here in the U.S., Mirai has been featured in Parade Magazine and the Chicago Tribune, and was a favorite of radio legend Paul Harvey. Now, local corn lovers can discover for themselves why folks all over the globe have fallen for this niche-market sweet corn crop.

“I want people to experience this new taste, and this new variety of sweet corn,” said Jack Moore of Gro-Moore Farms in Henrietta, (585- 370-6134).

Doug Mason of Mason Farms in Williamson has grown the larger variety of Mirai for the past 15 years, but believes there is plenty of room in the marketplace for the little guy as well. “The smaller ears are every bit as good as the big ones,” Mason said. “The flavor is excellent, and there is almost no cob. This corn is all meat!”

Other local farms growing Mr. Mini Mirai or Mirai-Gour-Maize include Phil White’s Bob-Mar Farms in Bloomfield, (585-657-7528); Roger and Ned Powers’ Powers Farm Market in Pittsford, (585-261-6104); and Jim Maier of H. A. Maier and Sons Farm in Spencerport (585-349-2435).

Harris Seeds has sponsored a taste test among corn lovers nationwide, with the results to be released in September.

Harris Seeds
www.harrisseeds.com

Contacts:
Dave Mackenzie, Centex (970) 901-7714
Richard Chamberlin, Harris Seeds (535) 935-7015

Richard Chamberlin, president of Harris Seeds in Rochester, New York, has created the company’s very first blog in February 2010. According to Chamberlin, the company has a rich tradition in history, and he wants to share this information with his readers. Chamberlin also noted that there is a wealth of happenings that go on behind the scenes, and the general public has little knowledge for what makes a seed company tick. Each week, viewers will be able to learn some very interesting things about Harris Seeds that go way back to 1879. The past, present and future will be reflected through this ongoing series of commentaries.

The blog can be accessed from the company web site at www.harrisseeds.com, and readers will have an opportunity to submit comments at the end of each post.

The Harris Seeds 2010 Home Garden Catalog has just been published and is in the mail! New to this catalog are several vegetable varieties from seed, including Daisy Gourd – a charming new gourd with paintbrush color patterns and unique shapes, Fire and Ice Lettuce Blend – a blend of sweet and tasty lettuce varieties with contrasting textures, Sweet Treats Tomato – a very sweet, large pink cherry tomato, and Vision Sweet Corn – absolutely the sweetest and most tender variety you will ever sink your teeth into.

New flower seed varieties include Gaillardia Mesa Yellow – a 2010 All America Selections Winner and the first-ever hybrid yellow Gaillardia from seed, Tiger Eye Rudbeckia – the first American Garden Award winner and the first hybrid Rudbeckia hirta from seed, new Easy Wave Petunia varieties – Burgundy Star, Plum Vein and Violet, and Candy Mix Zinnia – an unusual zinnia mix and last year’s bonus seed offering.

Home gardeners will find everything they need for their garden in this catalog including best selling seed starting supplies (including OMRI approved Jiffy pots and strips), mulches, watering supplies, animal and disease control products, as well as new products like new heat mats, planters, soil meters and fertilizers.

Harris Seeds carries more than just seeds and supplies! They also offer potatoes and shallots (both new this year!), garlic bulbs, flower bulbs, barerooted fruit transplants, and vegetable transplants.

Gardeners who are not already on Harris Seeds’ mailing list can request a catalog at www.harrisseeds.com or by calling (800) 544-7938.

Harris Seeds is pleased to present the results of a Vegetable Gardening Contest that ran from July through September 2009.  Announced to all Harris Seeds home garden e-mail newsletter subscribers and titled “What does your garden mean to you?”, the contest drew in many types of gardeners, young and old, beginners and experts. Gardeners were asked to submit a written piece along with photos showing how their vegetable garden makes a positive contribution to their home and family. They submitted many very compelling stories that were written with sincerity, humility, and humor. Gardeners described involving both kids and parents in a family garden, renovating a vacant lot for use as a community garden, devoting a garden’s produce to a food bank, recovering from illness through gardening, and more! Harris Seeds staff voted to select the five grand prize winners, who were each awarded a $100 Harris Seeds gift certificate. In addition, the staff felt that all of the remaining garden entries were of such high quality that $10 gift certificates were awarded to those gardeners as well. Harris Seeds plans to run the contest again in 2010. Details will be posted at www.harrisseeds.com and in the e-mail newsletter as they become available.

To view the 2009 winners and entries go to the contest page on their website.