By Peter Lyons Hall
Late last year Jeff Bialis (J&A Farm, Goshen) had just harvested a crop of “popcorn ears” that he had planned to introduce at the Lakeside Farmers Market during this season, but it required time to dry out and prepare itself for its debut this past Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Greenwood Lake, NY.
“Since this is now ready to be popped,” explained Bialis, “it took about three to six months until the moisture content was low enough. So after you remove the kernels from the cob you just treat it like regular popcorn. If, for example, you want to do it in an air popper, put half a cup in a paper bag and pop it like microwave popcorn and in about 2 1/2 minutes it fills the bag. A half cup gets you a lot of popcorn. And it tastes like the best popcorn you ever had!”
Popcorn on the cob comes from a specific variety of maize (corn) known as zea mays everta which is the only type of corn that pops when heated. Unlike sweet corn or field corn, this variety is distinguished by its very hard outer shell (pericarp), a dense, starchy interior, and (after being dried) a low moisture content for popping. After being planted in the spring, it is usually harvested when it’s fully matured in the fall. But, instead of removing the kernels from the cob, J&A Farms leaves the kernels on the cob as a specialty item. The cobs are dried naturally, often for several weeks, to reduce the moisture content to just the right level (about 13-14%) so the kernels will pop properly.
Also on display were Baby bok choi, a powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins A, C, and K, as well as manganese and iron. It’s also low in calories and high in fiber, making it a great addition to a healthy diet. It is rich in Vitamin C, helping to strengthen the body’s natural defenses, and contains Vitamin K and calcium, which are crucial for maintaining strong bones and reducing the risk of osteoporosis. It also has a generous supply of minerals (potassium, magnesium, and calcium) that can help regulate blood pressure and support a healthy heart. Serve them sautéed with olive oil and fresh garlic for an easy supplement to any dish.
Meanwhile, Master Gardener, Jim Hall, was on duty to describe to visitors ways in which to guard against being bitten by ticks and how to protect certain flowering and vegetable plants from attacks by invasive insects and other species. The Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive insect from Asia, primarily feeds on an invasive tree called Tree-of-Heaven, but it often devours grapes, hops, apples, blueberries, stone fruits, maples, black walnut, birch, and willow trees. It’s best to kill them on site as recommended by both the States of New York and New Jersey.
The Lakeside Farmers Market, open each Saturday from 9AM-1PM through the end of October, on Windermere Ave. in Greenwood Lake at Winstanley Park, continues to be a source of valuable community information and serves as an opportunity to personally meet with local growers and producers of prepared foods and artisan crafts. It is also a collection point for food scraps and accepts both SNAP and Market Bucks. To learn more about this popular association of fresh food purveyors, click on GWLNY.org.
Photo credits: Peter Lyons Hall
