CORN, PURPLE (G57)

Known globally as maize, corn is the only grain whose origin can be traced to the Americas. Purple corn is a variety of the extra-large kernel corn grown in coastal areas as well as mountainous zones of the Andes region of South America, in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, and used there since pre-Incan civilizations. It produces kernels with one of the deepest shades of purple found in nature. Purple Corn is considered a superfood due to its high levels of phenolics and anthocyanins, which are plant chemicals that reside in deeply purple, red or blue-pigmented plants. It has been shown that plants rich in anthocyanins also have among the highest antioxidant activity. Purple Corn boasts higher antioxidant levels than blueberries, another naturally occurring purple superfood.