Which potato is most often used for French fries in the US?
The Russet Burbank potato, developed by Luther Burbank, is the variety most often used for French fries in the US.
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Potato Facts
Potato facts and facts about potatos.
11 facts on this shelf
Where were potatoes first grown?
Potatoes were first domesticated in the Andes Mountains of South America, in what's now Peru and Bolivia, thousands of years ago.
What was the Irish Potato Famine?
The Irish Potato Famine of 1845 to 1852 was caused by a disease that destroyed potato crops. About a million people died and about a million more left Ireland.
What was the first vegetable grown in space?
In 1995, potatoes became the first vegetable grown in space, aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.
How did potatoes become popular in France?
French scientist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier helped make potatoes popular in France, reportedly by placing guards around his potato fields so people would think the crop was valuable and steal it.
How many varieties of potatoes are there?
There are about 4,000 varieties of potatoes, most of them found in the Andes.
Why shouldn't you eat green potatoes?
Green patches on potatoes can signal higher levels of solanine, a natural toxin.
When was the International Year of the Potato?
The United Nations declared 2008 the International Year of the Potato.
What is chuño?
Chuño is a freeze-dried potato made in the Andes since the time of the Incas.
What was the first toy advertised on TV?
Mr. Potato Head was the first toy advertised on TV, in 1952.
How important is the potato as a crop?
The potato is one of the world's most important food crops, after rice, wheat, and corn.