If it’s late spring, it must be time for a very special tradition at Rudy’s Happy Patch Market – the arrival of the first sweet Silver King corn from Chase Farms! For the sixth year, we’re happy to report that we have been selected as the only Sumter County outlet for the in-demand corn.
The sweet corn has become the spring and summer side dish of choice for many tables in the Southwest Georgia area. Because it is planted in stages, Chase Farms corn is harvested from Memorial Day until mid-summer.
This past week has been a time of anticipation. Earlier this week, a Perry Wellness Center truck finally arrived in Oglethorpe to pick up the first bin of corn. And talk about fresh produce – the gathering of the order from the field was still in process when the truck pulled in. The freshly picked corn was quickly delivered to a conveyor belt for a quality control review by six members of the Chase Farms team.
The Perry Wellness Center group was welcomed to Chase Farms by Ellen Chase, who is in charge of the market. All farm and market workers are members of the Chase family and its extended family of long-time associates. Some of the associates proudly shared that they are the third generation to work with the Chase family. A tour of the grounds showed clean and well-maintained operations, including the corn processing facility and a group of chicken houses.
“We try to use every acre of land that God has provided for our family,” Ellen Chase explained. The Chase family members are active members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
This year, the Chase family planted 55 acres of corn, as demand for the choice corn has steadily grown. Last year, some of the crop was lost to wild hogs. Ever the practical farm managers, this year the family hired a hunter to lessen the problem and “harvest” the hogs.
As the last ear of corn was loaded on the Americus-bound truck, PWC founder and CEO Stuart Perry was pleased that the Chase Farms tradition continued. “We are excited, again, to be the only market in Sumter County to sell Chase Farms corn,” he enthused. “The Chase family believes in Perry Wellness Center, and we seek to elevate our name to the level of Chase Farms.”
Ellen Chase returned the compliment, saying, “We are proud to begin another year with Perry Wellness Center. This has been a great partnership for both organizations.”
In the photo above, members of Perry Wellness Center and the Chase extended family gather after loading the year’s first bin of Chase Farms corn headed for Rudy’s Happy Patch Market.