The food in Brazil has many flavors, textures, colors and aromas. There are many foods we have never encounter in the U.S. The influences that affect the food in the part of Brazil that we are in many. The people that settled are from Italy, Germany, Portugal, Japan and other places of the world making this United Nations of food. Not only the people add spice to the food, the plants and fruits grown here are truly unique to this area. The mango—ooooaaaw—pineapple—yum, yum—watermelon—sweet and juicy--, passion fruit, guava (if you haven’t had it, you should), several banana varieties all grown in the region. And of course, do not forget the rice, beans, and café (coffee) staples of the Brazilian culture. Because of the growing conditions of the climate, they can grow anything and don’t relay on imported foods. The main course is yet to come. Betsy Wieland, Tim Dolan, Suzanne Driessen, Randy Pepin