Sweet corn frenzy at Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Few products locally have been able to create as big a buzz as the sweet corn grown and sold at Fresno State. Once again the first day of harvest created a mad rush on campus.

Long lines are normally reserved for Black Friday, maybe a movie premiere or perhaps the latest video game system. But once the doors opened at Fresno State's Gibson Farm Market, the frantic frenzy had everyone putting their hands on their ears of corn.

Jacqueline Stansberry of Fresno bought 90 ears of corn. She was the designated shopper for three families. Stansberry didn't mind standing in line, "Because Fresno State's is the best. It is juicy, it's sweet and I put parmesan cheese and it's good. I love it."

Corn season lasts until August but that didn't keep folks from packing into the store Friday for a chance to bag and buy part of the first crop. Tony Wanamaker bought 46 ears. Wanamaker explained he too was a designated buyer, "No, not a big party. A lot of friends, relatives. They like the corn like I do. It just tastes better. The texture and the taste."

Not so much Black Friday here. More like yellow and white Friday. Those were your corn choices -- three for $0.99. Once one bin emptied another one full of corn was brought out. Store assistant manager Joseph Rodriguez said, "It's a little overwhelming at first but it's nice to see the community. It's not just the local community. It's people around California, across the state waiting to have this corn they've been waiting all year. It came straight from that field by the students here to be sold."

If you missed out on the first day don't worry. The cornfields will keep producing through summer.

The market is located at 5368 N. Chestnut Ave. in the 2,500-foot expanded facility that was opened in 2013, thanks to a $1.5 million bequest from the estate of Joyce Mae Gibson.