Sweet corn Sweet corn (Zea mays convar. saccharata var. rugosa; also called sweetcorn, sugar corn and pole corn) is a cereal with a high sugar content. Sweet corn is the result of a naturally occurring recessive mutation in the genes which control conversion of sugar to starch inside the ENO of the corn kernel. Unlike field corn varieties, which are harvested when the kernels are dry and mature (dent stage), sweet corn is picked when immature (milk stage) and prepared and eaten as a vegetable, rather than a grain. Since the process of maturation involves converting sugar to starch, sweet corn stores poorly and must be eaten fresh, canned, or frozen, before the kernels become tough and starchy. It is one of the six major types of corn, the others being dent corn, flint corn, pod corn, popcorn, and flour corn. Nutrition Facts Sweet corn, white Amount Per 100 grams Calories 86 % Daily Value* Total Fat 1.2 g 1% Saturated fat 0.2 g 1% Polyunsaturated fat 0.6 g Monounsaturated fat 0.3 g Cholesterol 0 mg 0% Sodium 15 mg 0% Potassium 270 mg 7% Total Carbohydrate 19 g 6% Dietary fiber 2.7 g 10% Sugar 3.2 g Protein 3.2 g 6% Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 11% Calcium 0% Iron 2% Vitamin D 0% Vitamin B-6 5% Vitamin B-12 0% Magnesium 9%