History
Peppers are native to Central and South America. Harvest of the Month provides resources for the cafeteria, classroom, and community to promote the use of local, seasonal foods. They are among the first plants to be cultivated there. Pepper seeds dating back to 5000 B.C. have been discovered in Mexico. After explorers from Portugal & Spain made their way to the Americas, they helped spread peppers to other parts of the globe. Because the pepper plant is very adaptable, many different areas of the world started to cultivate them.
Fun Facts
- Red and yellow peppers are just green peppers that have been left on the plant to ripen for longer.
- Yellow & red peppers have among the highest levels of vitamin C out of all fruits and vegetables.
Benefits
- Red and green peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A and a good source of potassium. They also contain vitamin B6 and folic acid.