Fresno State’s sweet corn will be available Memorial Day, but with coronavirus rules

Fresno State’s annual crop of sweet corn is known to draws crowds — not an ideal situation, given current social-distancing guidelines in place during the coronavirus pandemic.

Last year, Dutch Bros sold coffee at the first day of sales and a radio station did a live broadcast from the event. People started lining up at 4:30 a.m. and by 28,000 ears had been sold by 2:30 p.m.

So, when the Gibson Farm Market announced Thursday that the first ears would go on sale at 8 a.m. Monday, there were some caveats.

This year won’t have such fan fair and the shopping experience at the Gibson Farm Market will be different.

For one, a temporary booth will be set up on the north side of the market for those looking to buy corn only. One customer will be allowed to shop per bin, and corn will cost 50 cents per ear.

Pre-bagged corn will be available at $7 for 10 ears, while supplies last.

The booth will be open for the first few days to alleviate expected crowds, according to a news release from the market.

A limited number of customers will be allowed inside Gibson Farm Market at one time and they will be asked to wear face masks while shopping, per government guidelines. The wait line will wrap around the store like past years, but with extra spacing to facilitate social distancing.

Only one person per group will be allowed to shop at a time, the market said.

Customers will be required to use sanitizer stations before they can pick corn out of bins and they will not be allowed to shuck or peel back the corn, or put it back into the bins.

The market is expecting a crop similar to last year’s to come off of the campus’ 70 acres. Yellow corn will be available opening day. White corn is expected in early June.

The market will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through the Fourth of July holiday.

This story was originally published May 21, 2020 at 12:42 PM.