What was the most important crop for southeastern Native American tribes?

Southeastern Native American tribes grew many crops, including beans, potatoes, peas, and pumpkins, but the most important was corn.

Women knew how to cook dozens of delicious dishes, from corn mush to corn bread, from this staple food. By drying much of their crop, they also made sure that their families would have plenty of corn to eat long after the summer harvest.

Women crafted huge storage baskets to keep the corn dry and protected from animals throughout the winter months.