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Which crops formed the agricultural foundation of Mesoamerican civilizations?

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Map showing principal sites of Meso-American civilization, with the Mayan zone of influence shaded in green across southeastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. The map highlights major Mayan, Aztec, and other ancient sites, as well as the extent of the Aztec Empire in central Mexico, using color-coded symbols and labels for notable cities and archaeological locations. — Pre-Columbian civilizations Principal sites of Mesoamerican civilization.

The agricultural foundation of Mesoamerican civilizations was centered on three primary crops: corn (maize), beans, and squash. These plants were often grown together in a symbiotic interplanting system known as milpa, which provided a balanced, nutrient-rich diet and promoted sustainable land use.12

Corn: As the most significant staple, corn eventually provided approximately 90 percent of the food calories in the Mesoamerican diet. It was domesticated from wild grasses, likely teosinte, and became essential for both subsistence and social rituals.13
Beans: Appearing in the archaeological record after 3500 BCE, beans provided vital protein. In the milpa system, they act as nitrogen-fixers, enriching the soil for the other crops.12
Squash: Domesticated early in the region's history, squash served as a critical food source. Its large leaves help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.32

While these three formed the core, other prominent crops included chili peppers, avocados, cacao, tomatoes, cotton, and manioc.3