The History of Potatoes 

The history of potatoes is a little long, so we decided to write a brief summary about it. The purpose is to give you an idea about how potatoes were found, and how they arrived to Europe and North America.

The first ones to cultivate potatoes were Inca Indians in Peru, and also in Bolivia in South America approximately about 200 years BC. It is believed that potato plants were used by Inca Indians as part of a religious ceremony, according to some researchers. The evidence is the pottery found , which was usually made and decorated with different potato shapes.

Potatoes were carried to Europe by the Spanish explorers during the 16th century. In Europe, people began to cultivate it in Spain, England, and in Ireland.  In Spain, the potato plant was considered a medicinal plant because of its healing properties.

The potato became a major food source to the Irish people, but during the 19 th century a fungus destroyed the potato crops causing a major devastation.   It was during this time that about 750,000 people died and many other people began to emigrate to other countries. This tragic incident was named the Irish Potato Famine and lasted 6 years.  

Potatoes arrived in North America during the 17 th century. As a curious fact, French fries were first introduced in United States during the 19th century when Thomas Jefferson served them in the White House while he was President. Interesting, isn't it?
 

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