With surf, sand, sunshine and tropical golf courses in abundance, perhaps most folks don’t immediately think of Palm Beach County as "corn country", not to mention the Sweet Corn Capital of the world.

Boiled, roasted or raw, corn doesn’t come any sweeter than that grown right here in Palm Beach County. And we all know it to be the sweetest, tenderest sweetcorn to be found. No community grows more. In fact, Palm Beach County grows more sweetcorn than any other county in the world! Palm Beach County farmers cultivate more than 27,000 acres yearly. Few counties grow half that acreage. Western Palm Beach County is home to the best agriculture soil in Florida. The so called "Black Gold" or "Muck", is the reason the vegetables and fruits grow so well.

With a shelf life of a week to ten days, the local yield is quickly shipped to supermarkets along the Eastern Seaboard and to destinations as far away as the Midwest, California and Canada.

The 10th annual Sweet Corn Fiesta, presented by Florida Sweet Corn Exchange, is a celebration of the world's best sweet corn and the county's spring growing season with those who make it happen. This year, the takes place on Sunday, April 25th between 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. in Yesteryear Village on the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach.

Aside from a bountiful supply of the world’s sweetest corn and other delicious food varieties, there will be children’s rides and games, music and competitions sponsored by Steinger, Iscoe and Greene, Motor City Car Wash, Solid Waste Authority, Bud's Chicken & Seafood, the Royal Inn, Royal Palm Chiropractic, and our area Ford dealers.

The fun really kicks in with an old-fashion swimsuit contest at 1:00 P.M. followed by several age group corn shuckin’ contests. An amateur corn eating competition follows which offers $100 to the winner (must be 18 or older to enter). The fun culminates with a professional Corn Eating contest featuring the International Federation of Competitive Eaters (as seen on ESPN). The champion will win $1,500. If you dare to enter, this competition is open to the public.

Go back in time as you stroll Yesteryear Village, an historic community of over 20 restored buildings. Volunteer costumed re-enactors produce scenes of a bygone era. Early Florida crafters and candle-dippers demonstrate and display items up for sale. The Village is also home to The Bink Glisson Historical building and the Sally Bennett Big Band Hall of Fame.

The Fairgrounds is in suburban West Palm Beach, off Southern Boulevard 1 mile west of the Florida Turnpike exit #97.

For additional information, phone (561) 793-0333 or Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau at (561) 996-0343.