Produce
Sweet corn
The husk protects the kernels through the entire season, and sweet corn posts the lowest detection rate of anything on this site — 7% of conventional samples, averaging 0.08 residues each. There is no residue-based case for buying it organic.
Organic upgrade priority
Conventional is a reasonable budget choice
Score 1/100 · about $2.00 a week extra for a household of two
- →Conventional samples index 3/100 against 1/100 for organic — a 2-point difference.
- →At about 2 servings a week, the difference applies to a smaller share of what you eat.
- →Sample confidence is limited, so the score is weighted down by 28%.
- →The organic figure is estimated from the dataset-wide median reduction (22% of the conventional index), not measured for this commodity.
Key numbers
- Residue evidence
- 3/100
- Lower residue evidence
- Nutrient density
- 58/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $0.79
- per each · organic +63%
- Servings a week
- 2
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
- Samples
- 1,206
- Conventional, 2015–2024 · no organic set
- Data confidence
- Limited
- Set from sample size and year coverage
Organic vs conventional sweet corn
| Measure | Conventional | Organic |
|---|---|---|
| Samples analysed | 1,206 | No usable set |
| Program years | 2015–2024 | — |
| Samples with any residue | 7% | — |
| Mean residues per sample | 0.1 | — |
| Samples above the EPA tolerance | 0.17% | — |
| Relative residue evidence index | 3/100 | — |
| Typical price | $0.79 / each | $1.29 / each |
Nutrition
Per 1 medium ear (90 g).
77
calories
2.9 g
protein
2.5 g
fiber
6.4 g
sugar
- Lutein & zeaxanthin
- Thiamin 10% DV
- Folate 9% DV
How to wash sweet corn
Husk and rinse. The silk comes off more easily under running water than dry.
Washing reduces surface residue and soil. It does not remove systemic compounds taken up into the plant, and no soap, vinegar, or commercial produce wash has been shown to beat 30 seconds of plain running water by a margin worth paying for. Full washing guide.
Buying and storing
- ◆Most U.S. sweet corn is not the genetically engineered field corn people picture — but a share of it is Bt sweet corn. Shoppers who avoid GE crops should note that certified organic is the only reliable way to do that; residue data is not the relevant question here.
- ◆Corn starts converting sugar to starch the moment it is picked. Buy it late in the day at a farm stand and it will be sweeter than supermarket corn a week off the field.
Common questions
›Should I buy organic sweet corn?
Probably not, if money is tight. Sweet corn indexes 3/100 on relative residue evidence against null/100 for organic — a difference small enough that the same dollars buy far more on leafy greens or berries.
›Are sweet corn high in pesticides?
Sweet corn shows lower residue evidence — an index of 3/100 relative to other commodities. Across 1,206 conventional samples from 2015–2024, 7% contained at least one detected residue, averaging 0.1 distinct compounds per sample, and 0.17% exceeded the applicable EPA tolerance. A detection is not the same as an unsafe level.
›How much more does organic sweet corn cost?
About 63% more at typical U.S. retail — $0.79 per each conventional against $1.29 organic. For a household of 2 at normal purchase volume that is roughly $2.00 a week.
›How should I wash sweet corn?
Husk and rinse. The silk comes off more easily under running water than dry.
Related foods
Spinach
$3.29 / 5 oz container · organic $4.49
Kale
$2.79 / bunch · organic $3.79
Broccoli
$2.49 / lb · organic $3.69
Bell peppers
$1.49 / each · organic $2.29