Fun Facts

Fun fact! Animal rations containing flax have been shown to increase fertility in hogs and immunity in steers.

Fun fact! Some celery varieties contain potent chemicals, including caustic secondary plant metabolites that function as a repellant to insects and herbivores to protect the plant. Click to read more.

Fun fact! In the U.S., organic wheat is the largest organic grain/seed crop with 451 million acres, followed by organic corn with 319,953 acres.

Fun fact! Farmers often plant proso millet as an emergency cash crop when other crops have failed or unable to be planted because of unfavorable conditions. Click here to learn more.

Fun fact! Maple sap is actually clear and slightly sweet with the consistency of spring water. Click to read more!

Fun fact! Ancient Greeks would use different scents of perfume for each part of their body. Click to read more!

Fun fact! There are two types of peaches: clingstone and freestone peaches. Click to read more!

Fun fact! Historically, the superstitious would carry around a sachet of anise as protection from the evil eye.

Fun fact ! In the Middle Ages, the English used thyme in food as an antimicrobial to prevent it from spoiling too fast.

Fun fact! It takes about ten years for mulberry trees to produce fruit from the seedling stage.

Fun fact! White agaricus mushrooms contain more protein than kidney beans.

Fun fact! Caraway was an ingredient in love potions because it was thought to keep lovers from proving fickle.

Fun fact! Cultivars of persimmon are classified as either astringent or non-astringent. Click to learn more!

Fun fact! Potatoes were first introduced to North America in 1691, and first planted in New Hampshire in 1719. Click to learn more.

Fun fact! Sugar plants in the U.S. and Brazil burn bagasse, a byproduct of sugar production, to produce electricity in their plants. Click to read more.

Fun fact! Flour made from yellow mustard is a very good emulsifying agent and stabilizer often used in sauces and prepared meats.

Fun fact! Oil from fig seeds has a 30% fatty acid composition that includes oleic, linoleic, linolenic, palmitic, stearic and arachidic fatty acids.

Fun fact! European varieties of plums are predominantly grown for processing into prunes, while Japanese varieties of plums are grown exclusively for the fresh market.

Fun fact! To make one can of jellied cranberry sauce requires about 200 cranberries.

Fun fact! To make one pound of raisins, it takes about 4-4.5 pounds of green grapes.

Fun fact! New Jersey leads the nation in the acres of eggplant harvested. In 2019, the state harvested 849 acres.

Fun fact! The flowers and leaves of sweet potato plants are in fact edible and can be prepared similarly to spinach.

Fun fact! Your typical Halloween pumpkin is not what's used to make your favorite pumpkin pie. Click to learn more!

Fun fact! Only 3% of U.S. corn production, annually, is used toward human consumption.

Fun fact! Early European settlers in the United States would serve popcorn as a breakfast cereal with milk or cream.

Fun fact! The paper and pulp industry can use fiber from the stem of flax plants for linen sheets, napkins, tablecloths, clothing, as well as fine papers like parchment paper and cigarette paper.

Fun fact! Use of added sugar (from cane and beets) peaked in 1972 at 102 pounds per person for the year. Read more!

Pecans have among the highest antioxidant capacity of common tree nuts, with 17,940 ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) units per 100 grams. Click to learn more!