Starches make up a large part of the carbohydrates consumed by Americans. Foods made from starchy vegetables, grains or their flours, such as french fries, baked potatoes, breads, pasta, rice, cookies and cakes, are all high in starches.
However, the average annual temperature is similar to that of the other tropical wet climates. Mean monthly temperatures in the Tropical Wet/Dry climate range from 18 o C (64.4 o F) to above 25 o C (77 o F).
The 1990 map shows 10 different zones, each of which represents an area of winter hardiness for the plants of agriculture and the natural landscape. The USDA introduced zone 11, representing areas that have average annual minimum temperatures at or above 4.4 Â°C (40 Â°F) and that are therefore essentially frost-free.he criterion is the average number of days per year when the temperature exceeds 30 Â°C (86 Â°F). The AHS Heat Zone Map for the US is available on the American Horticultural Society website.