Celebrate Hispanic heritage.

Hispanic culture is one of the world's richest. It's like a rich stew--say, a Peruvian aji de gallina--with many flavorful ingredients: Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Chilean, Argentine.

And that's the short list of Spanish-speaking countries that are woven into the great Hispanic tapestry. There are so many you could celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month year-round--and never get bored! There would always be something new to learn and love.

For example, in Peru, where the potato was first cultivated 7,000 years ago, farmers grow 200 kinds of potatoes: blue potatoes and red, pink, yellow and orange potatoes! They come in many sizes and shapes, have different tastes and are cooked in different ways.

Cacao, the tree whose beans are roasted and ground into chocolate, originated in Mexico. So did corn!

Chevere! (CHE-ve-reh means cool in Spanish!)

And we haven't even mentioned Hispanic art, architecture, music, dance, literature or history!

"To me, Hispanic Heritage Month is about diversity," said Hava Jean Delgado, a Cuban-American storyteller from Van Buren Township.