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Corny quota

Ted McIrvin sells

1,000 dozen ears

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Ted McIrvin of Lehigh has sold more than 1,000 dozen ears of sweet corn so far this summer.

The 80-year-old man has muscular dystrophy and credits his seven-year-old sweet corn business with keeping his muscles from completely deteriorating.

He set a new record this summer by picking 60 dozen in one day to fill a special order. His grandson picked another 15 dozen, and they sold 68 dozen.

McIrvin works from a motorized scooter chair. He has help in planting seed throughout the summer to provide a continuous harvest.

McIrvin hopes to sell 1,500 dozen by the time the season ends in November.

"It's really exploded this year," he said.

He has customers from as far away as Oklahoma. A sign along U.S.-56 at Diamond Road points the way.

The corn is placed in plastic bags and stored in an outside refrigerator. Customers help themselves and place the money in a lidded can.

McIrvin hopes to sell 2,000 dozen next year. He also hopes his 13-year-old grandson will continue the business after he no longer is able to do it.

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