Many New Uses For Very Old Purple Corn

Many New Uses For Very Old Purple Corn CROPS Miscellaneous Purple corn has historic roots dating back thousands of years and now it appears to have a very colorful future on American food shelves A Minnesota company Suntava Inc is capitalizing on both the color and nutritional benefits of Suntava Purple Corn to develop dozens of new snacks cereals baked goods and nutraceutical products “This has gone in more directions than I could have ever imagined ” says Bill Petrich Suntava CEO The origins of purple corn can be traced back thousands of years to the production of maize in Mexico and South America Suntava founders and their team of corn breeders have studied ancient maize strains in search of genes that may improve insect drought and disease resistance as well as deliver added health benefits The company says Suntava Purple Corn is a significant source of natural dyes and three antioxidants: cyanidin-3-glucoside pelargonidin and peonidin Purple corn also has high concentrations of anthocyanins that act as an anti-cancer agent an obesity and diabetes preventative and cure and an anti-inflamatory The company claims that one cup of Suntava Purple Corn contains the same antioxidant value as 1½ cups of blueberries Suntava’s purple corn is contract-grown on thousands of acres in southwestern Minnesota and in other parts of the country Corn seed can also be purchased from Burpee Suntava purple corn is processed into 5 primary products: corn flour corn meal snack meal kernels and grits A natural color extracted from Suntava Purple Corn is being used to replace synthetic dye Red 40 in candies beverages and other natural food applications Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Suntava 3290 S St Croix Trail P O Box 268 Afton Minn ph 651 998-0723; www suntavapurplecorn com

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