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Corn Month celebrates the beloved golden grain throughout July each year. From sweet corn on the cob to popcorn and tortillas, corn is a dietary staple and cultural icon. Explore new recipes, learn about its many uses, and share your favorite corn-inspired dishes all month long.
Want to sponsor Corn Month? Learn how
Expected Corn Month Deals
As Corn Month unfolds throughout July, expect grocery stores and farmers’ markets to feature sales on fresh sweet corn and related products. Major brands like Green Giant and Del Monte typically offer discounts on canned and frozen corn varieties. Snack companies such as Frito-Lay often run promotions on corn chips and other corn-based snacks, while Pop Secret and Orville Redenbacher’s may have deals on popcorn kernels and microwave popcorn. Look for special menu items at restaurants highlighting corn’s versatility, from street corn to cornbread. Specialty food retailers like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market often showcase unique corn-based products and seasonal recipes. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July approaches.
Platform Guide for Corn Month
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #CornMonth. Share vibrant photos of your favorite corn dishes, from grilled elotes to homemade cornbread, or showcase a farm-to-table corn harvest.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #CornMonth. Create short videos featuring quick corn recipes, DIY corn crafts, or fun facts about corn’s role in global cuisine and agriculture.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #CornMonth. Share family-friendly corn recipes, local farmers’ market finds, or host a virtual corn-themed cooking challenge.
Corn Month Hero
George Washington Carver
History of Corn Month
Corn, also known as maize, is a cultigen that requires human intervention to propagate. The domestic corn we know today originated from a wild plant called ‘teosinte.’ Most historians believe corn was domesticated in the Tehuacán Valley of Mexico about 10,000 years ago. However, recent research indicates that the adjacent Balsas River Valley of south-central Mexico is the center of corn domestication. By 4000 B.C., corncobs were already an inch long. They had evolved due to new sowing techniques. After the arrival of Europeans to the region in 1492, Spanish settlers consumed corn, and explorers and traders carried it back to Europe and introduced it to other countries.
Corn spread to the rest of the world because of its ability to grow in diverse climates. It was cultivated in Spain just a few decades after Columbus’s voyages and then spread to Italy, West Africa, and elsewhere. The widespread cultivation of corn most likely began in southern Spain in 1525, after which it quickly spread to the rest of the Spanish Empire including its territories in Italy.
By the 17th century, corn was a common peasant food in Southwestern Europe, including Portugal, Spain, southern France, and Italy. By the 18th century, it was the chief food of the southern French and Italian peasantry, especially in the form of ‘polenta’ in Italy.
In 1950, sweet corn was developed by Professor John Laughnan of the University of Illinois. Corn further rose to become one of the world’s most cultivated grains. The month of October is dedicated to this essential crop which continues to feed most of the world’s population.
Corn Month timeline
Farmers begin cultivating corn in what is now present-day Mexico.
Owing to new sowing techniques, corn cobs grow an inch long.
Spanish traders transport corn to Europe and introduce it to other countries.
Professor John Laughnan of the University of Illinois develops ‘sweet corn.’
How Businesses Can Celebrate Corn Month
Local businesses can embrace Corn Month by showcasing the versatility of this beloved grain. Restaurants might feature a ‘Corn-Centric Menu’ with dishes like gourmet street corn, cornbread-stuffed chicken, or sweet corn fritters. Bakeries could offer specialty corn muffins, cornbread, or even corn-flavored ice cream. Farmers’ markets are ideal for promoting local corn growers, hosting corn-shucking contests, or offering cooking demonstrations. Grocery stores can create eye-catching displays of fresh corn, cornmeal, and corn-based products, perhaps with recipe cards. These activations not only celebrate Corn Month but also highlight local agriculture and culinary creativity.
Corn Month FAQs
When is Corn Month?
Corn Month 2026 is celebrated throughout July, from Wednesday, July 1, to Friday, July 31. It’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the summer’s freshest corn.
How much corn is produced globally?
Globally, corn is one of the most important staple crops, with over 1.2 billion metric tons produced annually. The United States is the largest producer, accounting for roughly one-third of the world’s total.
What are the main uses of corn?
Corn has incredibly diverse uses, from human food (sweet corn, popcorn, tortillas, cornmeal) and animal feed to industrial applications. It’s a key ingredient in ethanol production, plastics, and various chemical products.
What is the difference between sweet corn and field corn?
Sweet corn is harvested when immature and eaten fresh, known for its high sugar content and tender kernels. Field corn, or dent corn, is harvested when mature and dry, primarily used for animal feed, ethanol, and processed corn products.
Corn Month Activities
Attend a parade
Several exciting parades are held during Corn Month. There are normally lots of fun games that you can participate in.
Cook corn meals
There are a variety of delectable dishes to pick from. Corn soup, corn burgers, corn fritters, corn tarts, corn, and jalapeno poppers are just a few examples. The list goes on and on, so get busy preparing your delicious, healthy meals.
Drink some corn beverages
Try out corn-based drinks. They vary from smoothies and teas to whiskey and beer, so there is a wide range of options for everyone.
5 Interesting Facts About Corn
The oldest corn
The oldest surviving corn types are found in the Mexican highlands.
Corn is grown everywhere except Antarctica
Antarctica is the only continent where corn is not grown.
Kernels can grow up to one inch
The maximum size of a corn kernel is supposedly one inch.
Corn is used for making biofuel
Corn is used for producing ethanol, which is a first-generation liquid biofuel.
The first corn harvester
The first mechanical corn harvester was manufactured in 1930 by Gleaner Harvester Combine Corporation of Independence, Missouri.
Why We Love Corn Month
It’s a good season to snack on some popcorn
National Corn Month is the ideal time to savor popcorn, which ranges from buttery and full-cream, to vegan, and dairy-free. We get to relax and have some tasty popcorn.
Corn is healthy
Corn is packed with various vitamins and minerals, it supports a gluten-free diet, and nurtures healthy bone density. It is a decent source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which helps maintain good eye vision.
Corn played an important role in history
Corn helped the Mesoamerican people to survive. The cultural significance of corn is seen in Mesoamerican art, myths, and rituals. As of now, corn is the most important crop in the United States and is a staple food in many places.
Social Media Tips for Corn Month
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