In the center of grain-growing country, sits the world's largest maker of breakfast cereals, the Quaker Oats company of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Oats are one of the world's largest grain crops, but its harvest goes primarily to animal feed, with only 5% of the grain making its way to human consumption, while the stalks are used for animal bedding, and the hulls are processed to extract a compound of industrial solvents.

Despite what seems a small percentage of human use, in 1901 three major companies and a few individual pioneers joined together to form a conglomerate under the Quaker Oats name. What they had in common, was that all partners manufactured either cereal or other products that used oats. From there, they went on to embrace snack products that also used oats.

Despite the image on the package, that of a member of the Quakers or Friends Society circa 1800s, the company has no association with that religious sect. The name and image were chosen because of the Quakers reputation for honesty and reliability.

In 2001 the company expanded even further, merging with PepsiCo, who were primarily interested in the rights to Gatorade, a drink made by Quaker Oats parent company. The venture made Quaker Oats the fourth largest consumer goods company in the entire world.