History of Sunflower

Sunflower is native of North America but credit of its commercialization goes to Russians. Evidence reveals that Sunflower was cultivated by American Indians in present Arizona and New Mexico since 3000 BC. It was used in many ways by Indians. Seeds were grounded and mixed with flour for cakes, mush or breads. Some tribes mixed the meal with other vegetables such as beans, squash and corn. Seeds were also cracked and eaten as snack. Seeds were squeezed to take out oil and this oil was used to make breads.

Spanish explorers brought Sunflower to Europe and initially it found its use as ornamental plant in gardens through out Western Europe and later on some medicinal use of the plant were developed. An English patent was granted for squeezing oil from seeds by 1716 and in 18th century Sunflower cultivation became very popular and most of credit for this change goes to Peter the great. Commercial manufacture of Sunflower oil started by 1830. Russian Orthodox Church forbade most of the oil foods barring Sunflower so it gained popularity. By 19th century Russian farmers took to mass scale Sunflower farming.

Russian Sunflower seeds found their way to US during 1880. Seeds were and even now are being sold as 'Mammoth Russian Sunflower seeds'. In US initially it was used as silage feed for poultry and later processing of seeds into oil commenced. Canada started Sunflower breeding program in 1930. Now Sunflower farming is being carried out through out America, Europe, Canada and many parts of Asia and Africa. In India of late Sunflower cultivation has been taken up on large scale.

Polyunsaturated Linoleic acid Sunflower oil is being used as cooking medium vegetable oil for number of years. It ranks fourth most used vegetable oil in the World. Its pleasant taste and health giving properties have made it very popular in normal kitchens and food industry. It is very stable, light, neutral and has long shelf life without hydrogenation hence it has started getting preference over other vegetable cooking oils.

Sunflower oil is finding its use in countries like Australia, Argentina, South Africa, Turkey, most of southern and eastern Europe, Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Union), the United States of America. Even in India Sunflower oil is being used extensively.

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