The shelves of Curacao's large supermarkets and specialty food shops are well stocked with a variety of goods from around the world. Because of its prosperity and its role as a major Caribbean transhipment centre,Curacao imports virtually all the food that is consumed locally. But traditional fare was another matter. Because of its poor soil and scant rain Curacao was never a major agricultural centre. Only a handful of food crops were grown locally, forming the basis of a somewhat monotonous diet for the majority of the people. Small plantations produced grains like sorghum and corn; robust vegetables such as okra, pumpkin, cucumbers, Swiss chard, and peppers; and fruits like plantains, watermelon, papaya and mango