Why are (sometimes) the tips of corn cobs cut off when I buy them from the market? Oftentimes, when I buy corn from my local city-slicker supermarket, the tips of the corn cobs are already trimmed (or detasseled):
However, when I went to a farm stand selling locally grown corn (usually picked the same day, I'm told), the corn cobs appear whole--tassels and all):
The local farm-stand corn is *much* better--much sweeter and softer. So from a consumer perspective, I'd much rather eat that, than the supermarket corn. But there must be a reason why the supermarket (or the farmers supplying the supermarket) do what they do. So why?
I tried Googling the reasons for cutting off the tips of the corn. Supposedly it avoids self-pollination of the plant, which is beneficial in the long run. But does it affect the flavor/quality of the corn? Or does the store-bought corn not taste as good because it has to be picked well in advance of its sale, due to transportation issues?
Just wondering all this as I was shucking tonight's dinner.