WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF STRAWBERRIES?  The history of strawberries can be traced back to ancient times, with the fruit being depicted in art and literature as early as the Greek and Roman civilizations. However, the first garden strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) was not developed until the 18th century. The garden strawberry is a hybrid between two wild strawberry species, Fragaria virginiana and Fragaria chiloensis, which were originally found in North and South America, respectively. The first recorded crossing of these two species was made by French botanist Antoine Nicolas Duchesne in 1764, and the resulting fruit was larger and sweeter than its wild counterparts. However, it was not until the early 19th century that strawberries became popular as a commercial crop. In the United States, the first successful strawberry crop was grown in the 1830s in the state of Massachusetts, and by

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF CHIA SEEDS?  Chia seeds have a long and rich history, dating back to the ancient civilizations of Mexico and Guatemala. Chia seeds were a staple food of the Aztecs, who referred to them as "running food" due to their ability to provide sustained energy. The Aztecs used chia seeds for food, medicine, and religious ceremonies, and the seeds were so valued that they were even used as a form of currency. After the fall of the Aztec Empire, chia seeds fell out of use and were largely forgotten for hundreds of years. However, interest in chia seeds was renewed in the 1980s and 1990s, as researchers began to discover the health benefits of these tiny seeds. Today, chia seeds are widely recognized as a nutritious and versatile food that can be easily incorporated into a healthy diet. Chia

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF CACAO NIBS?  Cacao nibs are made from the roasted and crushed seeds of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), which is native to South America. The use of cacao and its products, including cacao nibs, dates back thousands of years to ancient civilizations in South and Central America, where the seeds were used for both culinary and ceremonial purposes. The Mayans and Aztecs believed that cacao was a gift from the gods and used it as currency and in religious rituals. They also consumed cacao in a bitter drink, often mixed with spices and honey. The drink was believed to have both spiritual and physical benefits, including increased energy and heightened awareness. When Spanish conquistadors arrived in South America, they discovered the use of cacao and brought the seeds back to Europe, where sugar was added to make the

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF SPIRULINA?  Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae that has been used as a food source for thousands of years. The earliest known use of spirulina dates back to the Aztecs in Mexico, who harvested it from the waters of Lake Texcoco and consumed it as a staple food source. Spirulina has been used as a food source for centuries by the people living in the vicinity of Lake Texcoco in Mexico, and in Chad, Africa. In the 1960s, spirulina was rediscovered as a potential food source and was soon cultivated on a commercial scale. However, it is now being grown and harvested on a commercial scale for use as a dietary supplement due to its high concentration of nutrients, including protein, vitamins, and minerals. WHAT NUTRIENTS ARE IN SPIRULINA? Spirulina is a rich source of several essential nutrients,