Fort Town Farm: shoppers shucking corn hurts farmers' bottom line

A recurring retail grievance: shoppers are removing corn husks and even peeling ears before purchase, then returning stripped or damaged ears to the pile. Farmers and vendors tell NBC 10's Mike Serrillo this behavior creates waste, reduces salability and "hurts their bottom line." Vendors say a small visual check is acceptable but fully shucking an ear and putting it back forces them to throw it out. At Fort Town Farm in Seaconk, Chris Kleg explains the practice began "generations ago" when insect control was unreliable and worm damage was common; he adds it "still can be a problem, but it's not what it used to be." Farmers describe growing corn as "expensive to grow," "time consuming," and something that "requires a lot of resources," so avoidable losses matter.

The report gives a concrete retail contrast: at Paradise Hill Farm in Westport, Ted Robbins says he pre-shucks some corn for display so customers can see quality without peeling every ear themselves. Vendors accept a "little sneak peak" but object when customers peel back, spot a missing kernel or damage, then return the ear to the bin. The anchors and on-site vendors frame the behavior as an unnecessary relic that increases spoilage and labor for small farms; one vendor bluntly states, "It's not something that we encourage here."

Takeaway: farmers request that shoppers leave husks on or buy ears they inspect rather than returning stripped product. The segment traces the origin of the habit to historical insect pressure, acknowledges current risks remain, and contrasts vendor-managed inspection (pre-shucked display ears) with customer-led peeling that creates waste. Mike Serrillo, NBC 10, reports farmers want the practice to stop because of financial and resource costs to small operations.