EL MAIZ
Since the pre-Hispanic era, Colombia has been a key point for the terrestrial communication between South and Central America. Because of this, it played a very important role in the distribution of the corn and other foods. The environmental, social and technological characteristics of the different geographic regions in Colombia have generated proper conditions for the development of many corn races and varieties. In almost every agricultural territory in Colombia corn is cultivated, most common in the Caribbean tropic and the cold Andean region.
Even before the coming of the Spaniards, corn has been of the basic foods in the Colombia diet. It is primordial for the security of the food industry in the country, there are over 25 types of corn.
Memoria del cultivo
del maíz en Antioquia
Beautiful is the corn
But our habit does not let us admire its rareness,
Nor thank the sky for this gift
Only because it gives it every day.
[…]
Contemplate the plant.
To each side of its robust and yellow cane
Tender and arched her leaves hang,
Rocking back and forth with the playful wind
[…]
Similar to a young girl of fifeteen,
Of slender shape and erected brow,
Surrounded of joyful friends,
Overflowing with health and desiring bliss.
[…]
But there are some arrogants, dear God,
That only because they have stepped foreing land,
Have eaten ham and raw meat,
Their food and childhood reject
[…]
Those who did not grow up in t-shirts,
Crossing mountains and jumping fences,
You cannot know, unfortunate,
How great is the happiness this
Memory holds
Gregorio Gutiérrez González
