Popcorn (Zea mays subsp. mays 'Glass Gem')

While all corn, including Glass Gem popcorn, originates from the domestication of a wild grass called teosinte, the **likely geographical location of the *cultivation* and development of Glass Gem popcorn as we know it is Oklahoma, USA.**

Here’s why:

* **Carl Barnes and Greg Schoen:** Carl Barnes, a part-Cherokee farmer from Oklahoma, played a crucial role in collecting, preserving, and breeding ancestral corn varieties. He focused on rediscovering the corn varieties grown by his ancestors. Greg Schoen later met Barnes and helped him continue the work.
* **Oklahoma’s Climate:** Oklahoma’s climate is suitable for growing corn, allowing for successful cultivation and selection.
* **Preservation and Dissemination:** Barnes passed down his seed collection to Schoen. Schoen then introduced it to Seeds Trust, which led to its wider dissemination and recognition as “Glass Gem” popcorn.

While the genetic lineage traces back to Mesoamerica, the *specific cultivar* “Glass Gem” was developed and popularized in Oklahoma. Therefore, the likely geographical location of its recent history and development is **Oklahoma, USA.**

Not suitable for containers