Where do potatoes come from?

Today the potato is a staple of two thirds of the world population and the third most important edible plant.  Worldwide there are several thousand types of potatoes, of which only a small number are regularly cultivated.  The international potato centre in Peru has the largest genetic data bank with 3694 varieties.   The American potato association recognises around 4000 varieties. 

 

The potato is the most important supplier of vitamin C.  Potatoes are made up of 75% water and a big proportion of the rest, around 17%, is starch and carbohydrates.  Potatoes also contain 2.1% protein, 1.3% fibre, vitamin C and no fat.  Other important trace minerals are folic acid, calcium and iron.    

 

The history of the modern potato began in the time of the Incas.  Findings from the time of around 400BC on the shores of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and the Peruvian coast prove the potato existed then.  These early potatoes were about the size of a nut or a small apple and were red, golden or blue black in colour.   

 

In the mid 16th century the potato found its way to Europe via the Spanish conquerors.  Not only were botanists and scientists captured by this new plant, the governments in Europe also showed great interest.  They tried to convince farmers to cultivate the valuable plant to avoid the threat of war and famine.   Sometimes they had to resort to drastic ways to get the farmers to cultivate potatoes, as the farmers believed they were poisonous and the cause of syphilis and leprosy.  With the famous “potato writ” King Friedrich of Prussia ordered the farmers to cultivate potatoes in order to prevent a famine.  He had to threaten the farmers with cutting off their noses and ears to get them to grow them! The legend says that in Austria it took 2 priests to convince the farmers to grow potatoes. Thereafter the potato became more a more a staple of Austrian agriculture and has since become an important food.