‘Tis the season for Taber corn

By Lethbridge Herald on August 8, 2025.

Twenty-one-year old Eliza Larson (right) and sister Holly (18) sell Taber corn at the Circle K on Mayor Magrath Boulevard South Thursday; one week into the season which last until the end of August.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The return of Taber corn in August is an annual and eagerly anticipated late-summer event. But unlike baseball, football or hockey, its season is relatively short. The corn stands found throughout Lethbridge and the region will be open 6 days a week (weather permitting) until the last week of August. Get it while they’ve got it. 

“Every summer, when Taber corn stands start popping up across Alberta, it’s not just a sign of the season,” says Taber Mayor Andrew Prokop. “It’s a celebration of our agricultural roots, our community pride and the simple joy of that first sweet bite. ‘Corn Capital’ isn’t just a nickname- it’s a badge of honour.”

Like the fresh corn they sell, the stands are staffed mostly by fresh-faced high school and college students, working summer jobs that many Taber corn lovers might consider an “essential service.”

On a Thursday morning just over a week into the season, sisters Holly and Eliza Larson are working out of the back of a Johnson Fresh Farms pickup truck at the Circle K on Mayor McGrath Drive South, one of the busier locations. The truck contains 60 bags of corn and there’s also a bucket of kettle corn for sale. 

“The customers come up like ‘oh it’s finally time for corn,” says 18-year-old Holly, who is working her second season as a Taber corn ambassador. “They’re all super excited for sure.”

The trucks are initially stocked with 60-90 bags of corn and each stand has 30-50 bags. They are backed-up by a squad of trucks whose drivers are only a phone call or text away. They also proactively call or text throughout the day to ensure each location is adequately stocked.

“So far, I think it’s been pretty great,” says 21-year-old Eliza, who’s working her first season.

 “Everybody’s been really kind. Usually they’re so excited to see us.”

Taber is synonymous with quality corn and has been for generations. The region’s climate, with long, sunny days and cool nights, contributes to the unique sweetness and quality of the corn grown there.

“While we acknowledge it’s the surrounding region that grows the corn, it’s the Town of Taber that proudly wears the title of Corn Capital of Canada,” says Prokop. “You simply can’t talk about Taber without talking about corn- it’s part of who we are.”

Because of Taber corn’s popularity, “counterfeit corn” is a continual issue. Unscrupulous vendors all over Alberta set up roadside stands selling bulk corn sourced from who-knows-where under the banner of Taber corn. Such signs have been seen as far away as San Francisco, believe it or not.

Every legitimate Taber corn stand in Alberta has a laminated certificate of authenticity, but that doesn’t stop unscrupulous purveyors from trying to cash-in on Taber corn’s fame.

“The mantle of Corn Capital of Canada isn’t something we take lightly,” says Prokop. “It speaks to the legacy of hardworking growers, the trust of consumers who seek out the Taber name and certificates of authenticity for Taber corn, and the sense of identity we feel every time someone bites into an ear of our corn and smiles. Corn is woven into our festivals, our economy, and our culture.”

The corn stands will start closing during the last week of August, coinciding with Taber’s annual celebration of its most famous agricultural product, the Taber Corn Festival.

“Cornfest is our way of celebrating the harvest, our farmers, and the shared traditions that make Taber such a special place to call home,” says Anne Jensen of the Taber Chamber of Commerce. “That’s why we’ve been gathering for 50 years; first as Hootenanny Days, and for the past 40 as Cornfest, to honour our roots and have a little fun while we’re at it”.

The 2025 Cornfest will take place from Thursday, August 21st to Saturday, August 23rd. For more information, contact the Taber Chamber of Commerce.