WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Tuesday marked opening day for one of the Lehigh Valley’s most popular sweet corn destinations — Newhard Farms Corn Shed.
The market, at 3250 Mauch Chunk Road, opened Friday, but workers started picking and selling sweet corn Tuesday, owner Joel Newhard said — a little later than usual, but still in time for Fourth of July cookouts.
“It's mostly due to the cool, wet May that we had, more than anything,” Newhard said.
“We needed some water, but we just didn't need quite all of that, all at one time. But that's how it goes.”
Described by one customer as “ambrosia,” Newhard Farms’ sweet corn — at $9 per dozen — is incredibly well-liked throughout the region, especially with locals.
Leading up to Independence Day, the market often is packed, with workers directing traffic and a checkout line that snakes around the store.
‘Every year is a little different’
Before record-breaking rain in May, the Lehigh Valley was in a prolonged period of drought that stretched back to October.
While the U.S. Drought Monitor on Tuesday showed neither Lehigh nor Northampton County drought, the state Department of Environmental Protection has Lehigh County under a “Drought Watch” and Northampton County as “Normal.”
More wet, unsettled weather is in the forecast for Tuesday.
White the weather may have pushed the start of the season, it shouldn’t impact the harvest, Newhard said.
“We should have a good supply. It just was delayed by a couple days.”Joel Newhard, owner Newhard Farms Corn Shed
“We should have a good supply,” he said. “It just was delayed by a couple days.”
In 2023, opening day was June 30; last year's was June 27.
“To be honest, it's not that much different from last year,” he said. “We're only two, three days later than we picked corn last year, so not extremely [late].
“Some years we're open earlier — every year is a little different.”
