Cocoa, like many food crops, is consumed globally but produced regionally. Cocoa trees predominantly grow in countries within the belt between 10° north and south of the equator, with West Africa contributing two-thirds of global cocoa production. Their natural habitat is in the lower storey of rainforests where rainfall is high throughout the year, and the temperature is relatively uniform.

Sunflower oil production is centred in Ukraine and Russia, notably affected by price spikes during the Ukraine-Russia conflict. China is the producer of various staple foods such as mushrooms and spinach, with over 90% grown within its borders. Indonesia and the Philippines produce half of the world’s coconuts, while Turkey leads in hazelnut production, and olives are primarily from Spain, Italy, and North Africa.

In the southern hemisphere, Madagascar produces a third of the world’s vanilla, while Peru and Bolivia dominate quinoa production, and Brazil and Bolivia are known for Brazil nuts.