Welsh Bros focuses on the independent agricultural market within Ontario, selling their crops directly to the customer instead of to large food chains and therefore experience less market pressure. “Our volumes, acreage and prices are all very similar to what they were last year,” explains Welsh, “we focus on our customers that want to buy our products.”
While weather poses a threat to sweet corn growers, there was no major interference this year. “If the weather is too wet or too dry, it influences the corn. Sometimes, in severe cases, it can destroy the crop completely.” Sweet corn is not greatly affected by pests or diseases on average, however there are bad years. “We don’t get many insects, but when growing corn you might have five great years and then one year it will be very bad.”
Welsh Bros does not grow organic corn, but they are concerned with the organic and GMO communities. “There is a misunderstanding of the definition of organic,” explains Welsh, “While we don’t grow organic corn, we don’t grow genetically modified corn. Many people are concerned about GMOs and think that conventionally grown crops are modified.”
For more information:
Charles Welsh
Welsh Bros/Welsh Family Organics
Tel: 519-909-3706
TheSweetCornMan@gmail.com
www.welshbros.ca