The Sunflower's Story: A history
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From Prehistory to Present: a Sunflower Story!

The story of the sunflower (and its continent-hopping domestication) Sunflowers have been an important crop for a long time. This story goes back at least 5,000 years to Native American cultures. Some archaeologists believe the plant was among the first crops domesticated by humans- even before corn. Why would ancient peoples cultivate a simple flower…

Modern sunflower oil production: beyond smashing seeds
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Modern sunflower oil production: beyond smashing seeds

Modern practices make sunflower oil production highly sustainable and nutritious. From its historical roots in North America to the fields of Russia and back again (and again), the modern sunflower has come a long way both geographically and genetically. Thanks to selective breeding, today’s sunflower bears little resemblance to its ancestors and produces a far…