Amaranth, an ancient crop originating in the Americas, can be used as a high-protein grain or as a leafy vegetable, and has potential as a forage crop. Grain amaranth species have been important in different parts of the world and at different times during the past few thousand years. The largest acreage ever grown was during the height of the Aztec civilization in Mexico during the 1400s. During the past two centuries grain amaranth has been grown in scattered locations, including Mexico, Central America, India, Nepal. China, and eastern Africa. Research on amaranth by U.S. agronomists began in the 1970s, so optimum production guidelines and uniform, adapted varieties have not yet been fully developed. Only a few thousand acres of amaranth are commercially grown in the United States, and markets for that small acreage are fragile. Growers are advised to begin with a few acres, and to have a contract or identify buyers before planting the crop.
