Homegrown sweetness
Westrum Produce peddles Iowa’s bountyBy ANNE BLANKENSHIP, Daily Freeman-Journal Managing Editor
Article Photos
Despite the heavy rains this year, Mark Westrum said his sweet corn crop on high ground "looks pretty good."
The Stratford area farmer sells the sweet corn and other produce that he and his family grow on their farm. Weekday afternoons you'll find Westrum and his produce tent set up right next to Doc's Stop on Superior Street in Webster City. From 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., he catches the afternoon traffic that passes by. The timing is perfect for those interested in taking home some fresh, Iowa-grown vegetables. Regular customers know right were to find him, while travelers and others often happen upon the stand as they fill their cars with gas.
"I've been doing this for 18 years this year, and the business seems to get better every year," Westrum said.
The Westrums also sell their produce at the home near Stratford, a mile and a quarter north of Highway 175 on County Road R-27.
"You'll go right by my place if you're heading to Boone from Webster City on R-27," he said.
The family also travels to Des Moines twice a week to set up stands at Des Moines farmers markets.
The Westrums six children have helped through the years with the produce stands. His youngest child is 19 and still helps with the business. Another child, age 23, tries to help out on the weekends, he said.
"All of the children helped out through the years as they were growing up," he added. "It was really good for them."
Sweet corn isn't the only freshly-picked produce. Westrum also brings along cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes and canteloupe.
"At the home, we have zucchini, peppers, onions and potatoes. We've got cantaloupe ready now, too," he said.
Westrum said he thinks people like the sweet corn he grows because it's fresh out of the field.
"We pick it every day before we come up here, so it's always fresh," he said.
Lila Havinga, Webster City, stopped by to pick up a few ears of corn,
"Not too done," she tells Westrum. "But done enough."
"I've had his corn before. It's good corn - never too tart," she said. "I like it."
Westrum said it's all a matter of taste for the customers.
"I like to pick it when it's at the right maturity for people," he said. "If they tell me they like it more mature or less mature, it helps me to know what to put in their bag."
"Some like it a little young and crisp, and others like it a little chewier," he said.
Westrum plants about 10 acres of sweet corn and said he gets about seven pickup loads from each acre. He has been operating the stand since early July this year, and said he'll likely have produce available for another six or seven weeks.
Contact Anne Blankenship at editor@freemanjournal.net and 832-4350.
