National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Photo: African Slaves Brought First Rice Riches to U.S.?


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Heavy, golden-hued grains bend the stalks of a modern version of Carolina Gold rice. The heirloom variety was one of the first grown in the early American colonies, and it made many a plantation owner rich in the late 1600s.

New gene studies of the historic rice suggest that it was brought to the U.S. from West Africa and likely arrived with incoming slaves.

Photograph courtesy USDA ARS