What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word cotton? I bet salad dressing, makeup, or even shoelaces aren’t at the top of the list. However, cotton is present in all of those things—and many more everyday items.
While cotton is mostly known for natural fiber in textile production, it is so much more than just a cozy T-shirt. Upland cotton is considered an and crop, meaning every harvest yields a multitude of byproducts—producing fiber, linters, and seed—all without requiring extra land, water, fertilizer, or other support.
Your favorite denim, jersey, corduroy, or velvet clothing is made from fiber, while linters—the tiny fuzz left on the cotton seed—can be used to make a range of products, from paper to sweet treats such as ice cream.
And speaking of food items, cottonseed is used to provide nutritional benefits to cattle, and cottonseed oil is used in the commercial food and service sector, as well as in beauty.
Cotton is present in all of our lives and provides more comfort than we ever realized—even when you can’t see it.
