Macronutrients
- High in fibre
- Low in salt
Vitamins & Minerals
- High in Thiamine, Vitamin B6 and Folic Acid
- High in Copper, Manganese, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Phosphorus, and Zinc
- Bulgaria
- China
- August to September in Bulgaria
November and December in China
With over 50 species of sunflower, there are three main commercial types grown: linoleic, high oleic, and NuSun, which is primarily used to produce sunflower oil rather than an eating seed.
High oleic acid varieties command a premium, as oleic acid helps reduce LDL Cholesterol. Sunflower seeds are generally classified by husk pattern; black husk seeds normally go to produce oil, while the striped husks are widely used for snacking because of their distinctive appearance.
- Natural Hulled
- Toasted Hulled
- Flavoured Hulled (as required)
Commercially grown sunflowers are self-pollinators, although beepollinating varieties are said to have better yields.
As they are a fastgrowing crop, many producers will plant them as a secondary crop, after harvesting their main crop.
As sunflower heads track the sun when young, growers looking to maximise their harvest will plant rows in a North-South direction to prevent heads bumping each other and causing seed loss.
