2024 Red Deer area of Alberta, Canada Corn U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Red Deer area of Alberta, Canada in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for corn that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have corn orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Red Deer area of Alberta

• Bowden SunMaze - Follows organic practices, strawberries, vegetables, flowers, corn maze, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, Fall festival, straw or hay bale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, gift shop, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, farm animals
  34530 Range Road 14, Bowden, AB T0M 0K0. Phone: 877 224 3939. Email: maze@sunmaze.ca. Open: Sunflower and Corn Maze open End of July to End of October; Sunflower Maze in Full Bloom throughout August; Pumpkin Festival runs weekends in October from 11am to 5pm. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Cheque, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . Fax: 403 224 3993. . We follow organic practices, but are not seeking certification. Our Upick Strawberry, Vegetable & Flower Gardens are open during the summer for families to enjoy along side our legendary collection of Mazes. The most Unique maze is Alberta's only Sunflower Maze Grown from 100,000 Sunflowers. Visitors can also challenge our Corn Maze and growing collection of Tree & Patio Mazes. U-pick season kicks off in July with U-pick Strawberries & Flowers with Upick veggies & the Mazes opening in August. All our vegetables, berries, flowers & mazes are grown without the use of any synthetic fertilizers or herbicides & our farm is in transition to organic production. The is located next to Eagle Creek Farms, a U-pick Flower & Vegetable Farm open for picking from Mid July to the first week in September.
• Eagle Creek Farms - Uses natural growing practices, beans, beets, carrots, corn (sweet), flowers, herbs or spices, melons, peas, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties
  34532 Range Road #14, Bowden, AB T0M 0K0. Phone: 877 224 3939. Email: fresh@eaglecreekfarms.ca. Open: Summer Hours: Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 6pm: Sunday from 11am to 5pm Fall. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Cheque, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard. . Fax: 403 224 3994. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. U-pick Open Mid July until Early September. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. We grow a selection of Vegetables & Flowers in our Gardens for you to pick. There is no admission to enter the Upick Gardens, you are only charged for what you pick. We have everything you need to cut a bouquet of flowers or harvest fresh veggies from the gardens including clippers, forks and bags. . (UPDATED: May 15, 2023, JBS)
• Pinky's Organics - Uses natural growing practices, not yet certified, apples, haskaps, pears, red raspberries red, Yellow raspberries, Black raspberries, strawberries, asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, pie or tart cherries, sweet corn, pickling cucumbers, slicing cucumbers, garlic, kale, lettuce or salad greens, onions, snap peas (edible pod), snow peas (flat edible pod), hot peppers, sweet peppers, Swiss chard, summer squash, winter squash, Heirloom tomatoes, paste or Roma tomatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, daffodils, lavender, Lillies, sunflowers, tulips, zinnias, flowers, Basil, Mint, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Fresh eggs
  26040 highway 595, Red Deer County, AB t4e0t8. Phone: (403) 347-7148. Email: pinkysflowerfarm@xplore.net. Open: daily 9 am to 5 pm starting in July through to October. Directions: 8KM east of Red Deer on highway 595. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. (ADDED: April 17, 2024)

 

Corn

Corn Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Corn reaches it's peak sweetness and flavor when the kernels are full, and just touching each other, like a good set of teeth!  They should not be bloated and smushed so tightly that there is no space left at all. The bloated overripe ears will have a bland, starchy taste.

Here's what to look for:

• The tips of the silks coming out of the ear should be a light brown.
•  If you break a kernel with your fingernail, the liquid should be slightly milky in color.
•  The ears should be filled out and have developed good girth but not bloated.

Harvesting

 To harvest, snap off the ears by hand with a quick, firm, downward push; then twist and pull.
 Avoid twisting or yanking the ears, as this can damage the stalk or the ear itself.

Storing the corn

Corn is at its prime eating quality on the stalk for only 72 hours before becoming over mature. The most important factor is cooling it as soon as possible after harvesting it.  Get it into the fridge or cover it with ice! Many farmers say you should remove the shucks right away, too.  I've found that removing most of the shuck, but leaving a few leaves to cover each ear is best to prevent the kernels from drying out.  See this page for more about storing corn before using it.

Cooking:

The worst mistake people make is overcooking corn.  In fact, corn isn't really cooked; it's just heated up. If you cook it form more than a few minutes (3 minutes), then you are simply breaking down the sugars and turning a nice, crisp sweet ear into bland mush. It's not a pot roast; the purpose of heating it is NOT to break down the cells, just to heat them to bring out the flavor and melt the butter!

Here's how to cook the corn:

1. Fill a large pot (large enough so the shucked ears can fit inside, laying down) about 2/3 full of water and start bring it to a boil
2. Shuck the ears, and snap off the stalk end and the very tip of ear (especially if you will use "corn stickers" , (handles) to hold the ears.
3. When everyone is sitting down at the table and you are serving the rest of the meal, put the corn in the boiling water and set the time for 3 minutes.
4. After 3 minutes, using tongs, retrieve the ears and serve them with butter (Corn boats are wonderful for corn!

 

Freezing Corn

You can easily freeze the sweet corn and have that great taste in the dead of winter! 

• Freezing whole ears of corn on the cob
• Freezing corn, cut off the cob

Canning Corn

This too, is easy... but it DOES require a Pressure Canner.  You cannot safely do this with a water bath canner.  Food poisoning is no joke!

• Here is how to can corn!
•  how to make canned creamed corn.
• Southern Chow-Chow (also called Piccalilli)
• Pickled corn relish

Other corn recipes

• How to make sweet corn ice cream
• Corn bread, or sweet corn muffins (like Chi Chi's)

• Corn fritters (a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers