Sunflowers are a native North American plant and it is believed that were the first domesticated crop by Native Americans, even before corn. The Sunflower seed was an important part of the diet and the seed was squeezed for the oil to be used in making bread. However, not all sunflower oils are the same. There are different varieties of sunflower oil seeds and there are different ways of processing the seeds to get the oil. These different variations result in different oils.
Sunflower oil is valuable on a nutritional level, as it is rich in essential fatty acids, but also from a dietary point of view because it is stable when heated and has a neutral flavour.
Lacking in proteins and carbohydrates, sunflower oil contains lipids and vitamins (E and K). A tablespoon of sunflower oil (15 ml) provides 122 kilocalories. Sunflower oil is rich in linoleic acid (a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid), essential for humans as we are unable to synthesise them ourselves. It also contains oleic acids but has a relatively low amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
Sunflowers generally grow during the summer and into early fall, with the peak growth season being mid-summer. Several species of Sunflower are grown in gardens, but have a tendency to spread rapidly and can become aggressive.
Commercial sunflower farming can be a great business idea for you, especially if you want to make some good profits. It is an established business idea and you can start it easily.