Grains and Pasta

The term grains simply refers to the fruits or seeds of various food plants, including cereal grasses.   Collectively, grains are among the most important foods in the world. Maize, wheat, and rice together account for nearly 90 percent of grain production worldwide.

 Cereal grains are grown in greater quantities than any other crop, a distinction that has earned them the designation staple crops. Common cereal grains include the following:  barley, maize (corn), millet, oats, rice, and wheat.