Sunflower Industry Doing Well
Sunflower Industry: Acres Up & New Markets After a decline, sunflower acreage in Colorado is up 20%, which shows that producers are realizing that sunflowers are viable and profitable. The increase includes both confection and oil varieties. Karl Esping is President of the National Sunflower Association and says that this dry weather crop does well in Colorado and Kansas. The confection varieties or edible sunflower are more popular in Southern Colorado due to the dry weather. As for prices, they have declined somewhat from last year, according to Esping. One unique product that the sunflower industry brings to the market is their premier oil, call High Oleic oil. This oil contains Omega 3 fats, or the good, healthy fats, which are good for health and can assist in preventing heart disease. A Colorado based company in Lamar, called Colorado Mills, now has its High Oleic sunflower oil being sold in over twenty Whole Foods Stores. Esping says that this could lead...