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The potato has since spread around the world and has become a staple crop in most countries. It arrived in Europe sometime before the end of the 16th century by two different ports of entry: the first in Spain around 1570, and the second via the British Isles between 1588 and 1593.
May 8, 2024 · Potatoes are thought to have been independently domesticated several times and were largely cultivated in South America by the Incas as early as 1,800 years ago. Encountered by the invading Spaniards, potatoes were introduced into Europe during the second half of the 16th century.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Where is the potato originally from?The potato is native to the Peruvian-Bolivian Andes. It was cultivated in South America by the Incas as early as 1,800 years ago. The Spaniards who...
- What does a potato plant look like?Potatoes have compound leaves that are spirally arranged. Each leaf is 20–30 cm long (about 8–12 inches) and consists of a terminal leaflet and two...
- How are potatoes prepared as a food?Potatoes are frequently served whole or mashed as a cooked vegetable. They are also ground into potato flour, used in baking, and as a thickener fo...
- What nutrients are present in potatoes?Potatoes are a source of vitamin C, protein, thiamin, and niacin.
Learn how the potato, a native Andean crop, became a global staple and a driver of modern agriculture. Explore the history of the potato from its domestication to its role in the Columbian Exchange, the Green Revolution and beyond.
Learn how potatoes evolved from poisonous plants in South America to become one of the most important food crops in the world. Discover how potatoes were introduced to Europe, accepted by the French king, and affected by diseases and wars.
Learn how the potato, domesticated in the Andes 10,000 years ago, became a global food crop that changed the world. Discover how the potato was introduced to Europe, transformed agriculture, prevented famines, sparked revolutions and shaped culture.
The history of potatoes can be traced back to the high Andes Mountains of South America, specifically the regions of modern-day Peru and Bolivia. The ancient civilizations of the Incas and the Tiwanaku were the first to cultivate and consume potatoes as early as 8000 BCE. Wild Potatoes and Domestication.
Genetic studies show that the potato has a single origin, in the area of present-day southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia. Potatoes were domesticated there about 7,000–10,000 years ago from a species in the S. brevicaule complex.
