Sweet time
People line up for Gisler’s corn
It’s that time of year again.
As temperatures make their inevitable rise toward triple digits in the early part of June, Porterville residents have come to rely on a sweet yearly tradition to make the summer heat a bit more bearable — the opening of the Gisler Farms corn stand on the corner of Olive Avenue and Newcomb Street.
The 2018 season kicked off Monday at 9 a.m., and based on the long line of customers already waiting an hour before they opened, the local buzz about their product is as strong as ever.
“Monday and Tuesday morning we could barely even get in here because the cars were everywhere,” said Kim Gisler.
This season’s prices for Gisler sweet corn are the same as last year— $6.50 for a baker’s dozen of yellow corn or white corn, or a bag of six and six for the same price.
Gold zucchini and red onions are also for sale now, and tomatoes, and string beans will be available in about two weeks.
Cantaloupe will be available near the end of their season, which typically runs wraps up about a week after Independence Day. Until then, the stand will be open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. until they sell out of product.
For more than three decades, the Gisler family have grown varieties of sweet and super-sweet corn and sold them fresh from their fields and into the hands of eager customers. But Gisler’s children recently pointed out that the accepted number of 32 years of operation is actually off by one year.
“We’ve had a big discussion over that because our son turned 32 Tuesday, and we started when he was a week old, so it’s actually our 33rd season,” said Gisler. “I had been going by my son’s age and not the seasons.”
Gisler Farms corn is Gmo-free, and Kim’s husband Dave performs trials every year and tries to stay on top of new varieties coming out. Part of the process to ensure that their corn is up to their own standards is taste testing — lots of it.
“We’re pretty picky. Every night we sit down and do a little taste test. Sometimes we even do blindfold tests,” said Gisler.
People come from all around neighboring communities to buy the famous sweet corn, and this year some ears will be enjoyed as far away as Minot, N.D.
One hallmark of a successful operation is the ability to change with the times, and the Gisler Farms stand is no exception. They have added drive-thru service in recent years, and promote their products through social media as well as with conventional advertising.
“Social media definitely helps get the word out, and the drive-thru really helps for people with disabilities and families with babies in the back seats of their cars,” said Gisler.
As part of a long-standing community tradition, the Gisler family have seen many faces come and go over the years.
“It’s nice to see all the people. We’ve seen a lot of kids grow up, and some of our customers have passed away,” said Gisler. “All of our workers here are either siblings or cousins. We just kind of go through the families until they don’t have any more kids.”
Irene Andrade, who will be a freshman at Monache High School next fall, is the latest of her siblings to work at
the stand and this year’s youngest worker. She thinks she might make working there a tradition of her own over the next few summers.
“I like working here. I want to share the money I make with my parents and buy my own school stuff for next year,” she said.
For customers who come back year after year, it’s the flavor that keeps them coming back.
“It’s the taste. The corn is just awesome. It’s better than anything else we’ve ever had,” said Debbie Allen, whose family has been buying the corn for so many years she can’t remember when they started. “We barbecue it, put it in a crock pot, and we find different things to put on it like lemon butter and garlic.”