Potatoes: past, present, future.

Hands up everyone who loves the potato...
You are among the top billion of the world. Read on to discover more about the humble origins, journey, and possible developments of the potato.

Potatoes are a "tuber" or root vegetable. The edible part of the potato plant grows underground. In other languages 'potato' is said "Pomme de terre" (French), patata (Spanish), panbowka (Polish), or yang shee (Chinese).
The potato forms as the swollen end of an underground stem. Its skin varies in color from light brown to purple and the inside flesh varies from white to purple in different varieties. One serving of potato is one medium potato, about 5.5 ounces or 148 kilograms, this serving contains 120 calories. Based on a daily 2000 calorie diet, the potato contains no fat or cholesterol, 20% of daily potassium needs, 9% of carbohydrate and fibre needs.
The sweet potato belongs in the same family as morning glories, while the white potato belongs to the same group as tomatoes, tobacco, chile pepper, eggplant and the petunia.
The potato is about 80% water and 20% solids. Potato is the fourth most important food crop in the world after wheat, rice, and maize.

Potato production represents roughly half of the world's annual output of all roots and tubers. Since the early 1960's, the percentage increase in area planted in developing countries has been higher than for any other major food crop. Production increases have been second only to wheat. More than a billion people worldwide eat potato. The crop also represents an important part of the diet of more than half a billion consumers in developing countries.

The potato originated in the Andes of Bolivia and Peru. It was there, in 1537 that the Spanish conquistadors discovered the potato. From there it traveled to Europe, then back to the United States. Peru's Inca Indians first cultivated the potato in about 200 B.C. This vegetable had many uses to the Incas. Raw slices were placed on broken bones, carried to prevent rheumatism, and eaten with other foods to prevent indigestion. The ancient Inca Indians valued the potato not only as a food, but as a measure of time. Units of time were correlated to how long it took a potato to cook.
The world's only Potato Museum is located in Washington D.C.

Vincent Van Gogh painted four still-life canvases devoted entirely to the potato. Gold Rush miners prized the potato, high in vitamin C, because it prevented scurvy. Men traded gold for the precious potato, ounce for ounce. At today's average gold price, a medium potato would cost a fortune.
The Mr. Potato Head doll was born in 1952 and was introduced to Mrs. Potato Head in 1953. According to Playskool, Inc., the two honeymooned in Boise, Idaho and have 12 children. In 1987, Mr. Potato Head gave up his pipe to set a good example for children.
People in Shakespeare's time viewed the potato as an aphrodisiac and labeled them "Apples of Love." This is an interesting fact because in French, the 'pomme d'amour' (apple of love) is the tomato!

Ruth, Ray, and Michelle will eat lots of potato at their new flat in 2005. Feel free to donate potatoes, or to come eat potato with them anytime.

This essay has been made possible by the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, the Peruvian International Potato Centre, and Ruth Nordberg. Thankyou Ruth for planting the dream.