Potato Facts
Some Amazing Potato Facts
Amongst the most impressive of our potato facts comes in the form of its origin some 4,000 years ago. In the deep climatic environment of Peru was where we first learned how to cultivate and utilize this rare tuber, or should I say the intelligent native Indians of that land did. From there, the potato found itself atop the Andean Mountains of South America. Here, the famous Irish potato was created, and I have a hard time understanding why the Irish do not call theirs the Andean potato. Oh well, back onto the subject we go. The Symara Indians of this content grew not only this distinct white potato, but over two hundred other varieties as well.
A few other interesting potato facts were born right here in America, as the very first potato was grown in Idaho by a gentleman named Henry Spalding in the year 1837. The French Fry was introduced by Thomas Jefferson to the White House during an informal dinner service. In one single year, the United States population consumes four million tons of French Fries alone, be they waffle, steak, or shoestring. Also, it is estimated that each potato loving individual in the country consumes 140 pounds of potatoes each year. The Germans enjoy over 200 pounds of these popular tubers each per year. How are those for potato facts, huh?
Our next set of potato facts are made up of, well, what they are made up of. Eighty percent water, twenty percent solid, to be exact. An Irish physician has laid claim to the potato as one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs known to man, though this claim has not been tested or researched by any American authority. The largest potato ever grown has held the Guinness Book of World Records’ top spot since 1795, and was born in England. At a whopping 18 pounds and 4 ounces, this was one heck of an aphrodisiac, wouldn’t you say?
And now for some solemn potato facts. The great potato famine of Ireland took place during the two consecutive harvest years of 1845 and 1846. A mysterious and powerful fungus completely wiped out the entire country’s potato crops. As the potato was the soul staple food for the Irish, the repercussions of this devastating agricultural failure caused a vast decline in population over that and the following generation. Between the years of 1847 and 1851, over two million lives were lost to the desperation and starvation. So the next time that we curse the eyes growing out of our potatoes, roll our eyes, and dart to the grocery store for a new $3 bag of them, maybe we could take just a moment to remember how precious these life giving tubers were to the countless generations before us.