About Potatoes

The potato has a long and interesting history. Here are a number of interesting facts about the potato:

  • Louis XVI of France wore potato flowers in his buttonhole to stimulate interest in the plant.
  • The Incas used the potato to treat injuries. They also thought it made childbirth easier.
  • China is now the world’s largest potato-producing country, and nearly a third of the world’s potatoes are harvested in China and India
  • 1801 – the year French Fries were first served to America
  • 1853 – the year the potato crisp invented in New York
  • The worlds third most important food crop after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption.
  • The word ‘spud’ comes from spuds, which were used to dig holes for potatoes
  • The world’s biggest potato was grown in Germany in 1997 weighing in at 3.2kg – the same weight as a small dog
  • In October 1995 the potato became the first vegetable to be grown in space! NASA wanted to develop super-nutritious and versatile spuds to feed astronauts on long space voyages.

For further information on potatoes including nutritional details and some delicious potato recipes please visit the following websites:

www.potato.ie
www.potato.org.uk
www.lovepotatoes.co.uk
www.albertbartlett.com/recipes