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Sunflower Facts

By Randolph Fillmore

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Shining Some Light on the Sunflower

 

  • Top sunflower oil and seed-producing countries in the world by rank (together provide 84 percent of world supply):
    1. The Former Soviet Union (27 percent of world production)
    2. Argentina
    3. Eastern Europe
    4. USA
    5. China
    6. France
    7. Spain
  • Striped sunflowers, called “stripers” or confectionary sunflowers are grown primarily for human consumption.
  • Solid black sunflowers, higher in oil than stripers, usually pressed for oil; also favored for birdseed because of their high oil content.
  • Sunflower oil may be used as is—or processed into polyunsaturated margarines.
  • Sunflower oil comes in several forms: high linoleic (at least 66 percent linoleic acid) and high oleic (at least 82 percent oleic acid). NuSun, a mid-oleic form introduced in 1998, is touted as a trans fat-free sunflower oil that provides stability without partial hydrogenation. Variations in fatty acid profile are influenced by both genetics and climate.
  • In 2006, the Lays Company began frying its entire line of potato chips and snacks in NuSun brand sun flower oil, cutting saturated fat by 50 percent.
  • Sunflower oil supplies more Vitamin E than any other vegetable oil; also an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein and minerals, including magnesium and selenium.
  • Sunflower oil is also used as a smoothing agent in cosmetics and skin creams.
  • Sunflower oil is being studied as a biological source of hydrogen for potential use in biofuels.

For more information contact John Burke at jmburke@uga.edu.

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