Across Alberta, Taber corn is well known. However, farmers and distributors are warning customers that a crop of counterfeit corn – being marketed under the Taber name – is being sold.
“For us, it’s a little frustrating,” admits Todd Mitchell, a Taber corn distributor.
“For the farmers in Taber, I imagine it’s got to be a huge problem, because they’re selling a name that they built.”
Mitchell says he’s seen counterfeit Taber corn being sold in the Edmonton area for the last six or seven years.
“They just go to the local grocery store, pick up the corn, and go out and sell it. We’ve had people steal our signs… all kinds of things to get into the business.”
Mitchell says there are only a handful of true Taber corn farmers, and all of their produce is authenticated by a certificate that clearly states the words ‘Taber corn,’ and documents where the corn is from.
“It’s a challenge that happens every year,” explains David Jensen, with the Alberta Corn Growers Association. “We try to do some control of that by having certificates that we issue to people we sell to, that gives the growers name and where the corn is from.”
The certificate of authenticity will also have a raised emblem on it to try to limit the amount of fake certificates being displayed at counterfeit corn stands.
“There are people out selling corn, and that corn is not originally from Taber, and they’re calling it Taber corn,” says Jensen.
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“Somewhere, somebody has to draw some lines as to where Taber corn comes from, not just southern Alberta.”
“There’s no such thing as ‘southern Alberta finest’ when it comes to Taber corn,” adds Mitchell. “It’s Taber corn. There’s no other name brand, there’s no other names for it. It’s just pure Taber corn from the town of Taber.”
According to the Alberta Corn Growers Association, the corn must be grown in Taber, by a farmer living in Taber.
“They say the sun shines better down there, the soil is in the perfect condition for it,” explains Mitchell, who’s been distributing Taber corn for 27 years. “Our farmer’s been doing it for so many years, he’s just really good at growing corn… we’ve been dealing with the same farmer for a good 25 years now.”
Authentic producers and distributors say this trend of using the Taber name to sell non-Taber corn is bad news for consumers and sellers alike.
“For 25 years, we’ve been building that name up, and same with the famers down in Taber; they’ve been building their name up. And when it comes to people just going to the Safeway store… or wherever… a wholesale place, and stealing people’s signs and sticking them up, that’s what ruins people’s business, and ruins their name,” says Mitchell.
Taber corn fans agree.
“It makes a bad name for the Taber corn because then you don’t know if you can trust the people or not. That’s not good to have,” says Joe Penney, who’s a longtime customer of Jensen’s Taber corn.
Penney says the certificates of authenticity help weed out the real Taber corn from the fake corn, but he also says it helps to have a distributor you know and trust.
“Jensen’s; I know the name… I know this gentleman; I’ve seen him around a long time. He’s always been out, and he’s good,” Penney raves.
Still, even the experts can be duped. Penny bought counterfeit corn only once, and learned that lesson the hard way.
“You can tell the difference as soon as you cook it, it’s hard. Not good.”
“It was just like cattle corn; you boil the heck out of it, and you still couldn’t eat it. It was just hard, so it went in the garbage can.”
To guard yourself from fraudulent Taber corn, request the vendor’s certificate of authenticity. Producers and distributors say that’s the best way to guarantee you’re getting the real thing.
“Make sure you have your certificates from the farmer himself, not ones that are made up… these ones come with a special laminate,” stresses Mitchell.
“The public is really the one that has to police it,” adds Jensen.
“That’s why we’ve done the certificates… so that people will be aware there’s counterfeit corn out there.”
One stand selling fruits and vegetables from a trailer at 50 St and Whitemud Drive in Edmonton advertises Taber corn. However, the certificate of origin it has on display reads ‘Southern Alberta’s finest corn.’
“I’ve had a ton of customers point at the certificate and say it’s not Taber corn,” says the young woman working there.
“My boss did reassure me it is from Taber and it has been as long as we’ve been selling it.”
Vendors who’ve been working with Taber farmers for decades want to help customers discern true Taber corn from the rest. After all, for many of them, it’s about more than just business.
“Everybody loves Taber corn so much. That’s the name brand they want. It’s out of respect for the farmers down there, for all the effort they put into their business,” says Mitchell.
“Then, to have them come in with somebody else’s corn, and trying to build up their business by using somebody else’s name brand – that’s what’s hurting everybody.”
“It causes a problem here,” agrees Arnold Walker, who’s been selling Taber corn for 15 years.
“People are getting to the point where they don’t trust anybody anymore for the product that’s being sold.”
“I think a couple of years ago it got to the point where it got to the Department of Agriculture and the Competition Bureau,” Walker adds.
If reported, counterfeit corn vendors can face fines under the Fair Trading Act. If you believe you’ve purchased fake Taber corn, contact the Alberta Consumer Protection branch.
In the meantime, distributors are warning Albertans to demand verification before they buy, while challenging the counterfeit vendors to fess up.
“What is really disturbing to us,” says Jensen, “is why – if corn is not from Taber – if it’s from Medicine Hat, or BC… or California – then call it that, and let the public decide.”
“If they believe that the corn they’re selling is good product, then advertise it as the product that it is.”
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