Season: June to September

Description: Sweet corn is a source of potassium, magnesium and fiber. Potassium helps maintain healthy blood pressure, magnesium helps build and maintain strong bones, and fiber helps control cholesterol and keeps bowel movements regular. Sweet corn is also a source of folate, which may reduce your risk of heart disease. Eating foods with folate before pregnancy helps lower the risk of delivering a baby with neural tube defects.

Vitamins: Potassium, Magnesium, Fiber, Folate

Selection: Choose corn in fresh-looking green husks that has well developed kernels. Kernels should be large enough so that they are compact and have no space between the rows.

Storing: Refrigerate cobs in husks.

Preparation: To shuck corn, pull the husks down and snap off the stem at the base. To remove silk, rub the ear in a circular direction under cold running water or use a vegetable brush.

Serving: Try brushing with olive oil and sprinkle on dried herbs. Herbs like thyme, paprika, chives, lemon balm, chervil, garlic powder and pepper bring out the flavor of corn. Grill corn in foil or straight on the grill.

Recipes containing Corn: