There is much undeveloped potential for small-scale production of sweet corn in Missouri. High quality sweet corn can be readily sold on farms, at roadside stands, city fruit and vegetable stands or farmers' markets.
Local advertising can bring quantity orders from considerable distances.
Growers within driving range of larger towns or cities may find a ready market at independent grocers or the larger supermarket chains if volume is sufficient. Large acreages, which justify mechanical harvesting, hydrocooling and truckload shipments to terminal markets or supermarket distribution centers, require the best possible land and considerable capital resources to set such an operation into motion. Farm families looking at sweet corn as a way of generating more income should study the realities of their situation. There are more farmers who have failed with sweet corn than there are those who have continued to grow it. A yield of 1,000 dozen ears of sweet corn per acre is considered good.