Someone at Nistler Farms in Maple Plain knows a thing or two about writing compelling sign copy. "Average produce eaten in Minnesota travels 1,553 miles. How far is Nistler Farms from your house?" was a real attention-grabber, but my personal favorite was also the catchiest slogan I've encountered for a sweet corn vendor: "We make butter taste better."
They sure do. Despite the cool and dry summer we've been having, sweet corn -- which thrives under hotter, wetter conditions -- has finally arrived at metro-area farmers markets. Jeff Nistler's stands are a popular destination at several Minneapolis farmers markets, and last Saturday was no exception.
While Nistler was the frontman at the Minneapolis Farmers Market, his pal Mark Nordeen was helping staff the farm's Mill City Farmers Market outpost, nimbly yanking freshly cut ears of sweet corn (six for $3.75, a dozen -- which means 14 in Nistlerland -- for $7) out of enormous burlap bags and stacking them as fast as shoppers were buying.
"I like the idea of city people meeting growers, and talking to people about corn education," he said. Here's what I learned: "Most people overcook corn," he said. "When you buy it fresh, it doesn't need much." Nordeen's fail-proof method preserves the corn's snappy texture and sweet, milky flavor, and it couldn't be easier: Strip off the husks and silk, place the ears in a pot, cover with water and cook over high heat. When the water reaches a boil, remove the pot from the heat, drain and serve immediately. Just add butter.
RICK NELSON
Nistler Farms (www.nistlerfarms.blogspot.com) sweet corn is available at four Minneapolis farmers market locations: Wednesdays at the University of Minnesota Farmers Market (SE. Church Street, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Thursdays at the Minneapolis Farmers Market (8th St. and Nicollet Mall, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Saturdays at the Mill City Farmers Market (2nd St. and Chicago Av. S., www.millcityfarmersmarket.org, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Saturdays and Sundays at the Minneapolis Farmers Market (312 E. Lyndale Av. N., www.mpls farmersmarket.com, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
For sweet corn recipes, go to www.startribune.com/tabletalk.
