Being from the west coast originally, I was not sheltered from foods. I pretty much ate everything I could. I think that has definately helped me later on.
Although, I had never tried, let alone heard of, Okra until I moved out to Missouri.
There are some people out here who don't like it, which kind of made me not so sure about trying it. But after I did, I loved it. Pickled, fried, how ever... chances are I would probably at least give it a try.