The "rot" at the tip was probably earworm damage. the Straw berry variety is very susceptible. Let it dry on the stalk and the remaining kernels will be good.

The damage actually looks a lot like Gibberella ear rot pictures, it broke away and was kind of dusty/sandy like and did not look like ears I have purchased that corn worms in the past. While I have seen the pictures, the ones I have pulled up have not seemed to indicate whether or not it was safe for consumption.

Well, after looking closer, there are some ears that definitely have mold. Those are absolutely going in the trash. Some other ones look like the rotting is a result of corn earworms, and those I will hang on to. I think that I will probably just put all of the stalks in the trash though, just in case they have the dangerous molds on them. A very sad thing to see all that biomass go into a trash bag.

You might try to pour mineral oil on the top where the silk grows to keep earworms off or to smother them.

Thank you, I will be trying that next year. I tried corn on a lark this year. I may not try strawberry popcorn again, though, will have to see if it wows me when popped. Today I did find one of the earworms. The chickens thought it was a tasty treat!