During the third week of August, Starke Ayres participated in “The Hall Field Days” hosted by Seneca Vegetable Research Inc., in New York State, USA. More than 250 people representing all aspects of the seed industry attended, travelling from South America, Europe, and all over the US. Visitors had the opportunity to walk through display plots and interact with company representatives. Knowledge, market concerns, market preferences and new opportunities were shared. Visitors were encouraged to explore the Starke Ayres website for further information. Starke Ayres had nine sweetcorn hybrids on display and visitors were encouraged to discuss these with representatives and receive advice tailored to their needs. These hybrids were selected for their potential to satisfy the commercial shipping sector
which supplies all fresh market segments. Varieties for this segment must produce ears with high eating quality, plants with good agronomic characteristics and desired disease package. The market needs a sweetcorn ear with vibrant kernel colour, mouthwatering flavours, good tip fill, good husk protection, and a trim picnic-size (17-19 cm) ear. SC5245, SC5247, and SC5248 caught the eye of seed distributors. Endurance (the rust-resistant version of Invictus) and P5292 showed promise for the processing market where the focus is more on consistent yield and recovery, kernel colour, standability, good sweetness and flavour, and a desired disease package. Important ear characteristics for the processors are a length of 19-21 cm, an ear diameter of 45-55 mm and 16-20 kernel rows.