The majority of the country's population is concentrated in this region.  The states that make up this region are: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.  This area is rich in minerals and its agriculture is the most advanced in the country, producing coffee and grains for export, as well as a variety of both fresh and processed foodstuffs, milk, and meat for domestic consumption. The Southeast also received large numbers of African slaves during the gold boom of the eighteenth century and the coffee boom beginning in the nineteenth century. This region also attracted new immigrants from Europe, the Middle East, and Japan who established family farms and eventually urban businesses.  Within this region, here are some specific dishes some states are known for serving.