SUNFLOWERS 

Sunflowers are truly American – they were first domesticated by Indigenous peoples in North America thousands of years ago. Of all the crops harvested for seed around the world, sunflowers are the only one that was originally domesticated in what is now the U.S. 

 

Sunflowers are an oilseed crop, similar to soybeans, that are harvested both for their seeds and oil. Sunflower oil is used as a vegetable oil in cooking, frying, and baking, while sunflower seeds can be eaten as a snack or added to foods like salads and baked goods.

 

In addition to being cultivated for their seeds and oil, sunflowers are an important crop for conservation. Sunflowers absorb heavy metals and toxins from the ground and are often used by farmers to help build healthy soils in their fields.