Corn

Corn is a very vital food that plays a major role in the world today.  It is not a natural grown crop.  It requires cultivation, preparation, and protection by humans in order to survive.  Corn is used for many purposes and without it, many products would be less useful, more expensive, and even unavailable.

Corn is a gift to us from the Indians.  It was first planted and domesticated by Native Americans approximately 6,000 years ago in Mexico.  Columbus was the first person from Europe to learn about after he sailed over in 1492.  It soon spread rapidly all over North America as Indians migrated and traded stimulated.  Also, the early American colonist used corn as money.  People paid their rent, taxes, or debts in corn.

Corn played an important part in the religious life of many American Indian tribes.  They had elaborate ceremonies, stories, and traditions when planting and harvesting it.  The Green Corn Festival is a ceremony celebrated by many tribes in one form or another to give thanks for the new ripened corn.  It was also used to decorate pottery, sculpture, and other works of art. 

To give you an idea on just how important corn is to us today, here are a few things corn is found in; chewing gum, salad dressings, paints, soft drinks, medicines, ketchup, and even popcorn.  The U.S. is the world’s largest producer of corn today.  Nearly 80 percent of the corn grown within the U.S. is used for trading purposes to other countries.