Very few of the products that we eat originated or were domesticated in the United States. Many food products originated in the Middle East and Asia. For instance, pepper and many spices are grown only in India and Southeast Asia.
Many spices continue to be imported into the United States.
In turn, many Asian foods could be grown in the Mediterranean or Western European climates. Many Asian foods were introduced into Europe in prehistoric times. As Europeans colonized the New World during the 16 th century, these products were imported into what is today the United States. None of these products were found in the New World prior to European colonization. All of these products are grown in the United States today, although speciality items are imported.