• Produce Profile •

Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are one of the most commonly available seeds. The sunflower plant belongs to the daisy family.These seeds have been cultivated for several thousand years, originally in the Mississippi River valley, the oldest known site being in Tennessee. They have been used by Native Americans for nearly 5,000 years. They were brought to Europe by the Spanish conquistadors.
When grown during its full season, big sunflower crops may yield more than 1000 pounds/acre. It is not recommended that sunflowers be planted in the same area more than once every three to four years. The seeds can be eaten whole, raw or cooked, added to breads and cakes, or sprinkled over salads or breakfast cereals.
A good source of potassium and phosphorous, sunflower seeds also contain protein, iron and calcium. More nutrition information is available at the USDA nutritional data base.

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