potato essay for class 1

10 lines on Potato in for class 1 - Short essay on Potato in English - Few lines on Potato

Today, we are sharing short essay on Potato in English . This article can help the students who are looking for information about Potato in English . These 10 sentences about Potato for class 2 is very simple and easy to understand. The level of this paragraph about Potato is medium so any student can write on this topic. This short essay on Potato is generally useful for class 1, class 2, and class 3 .

10 lines on Potato in English - Short essay on Potato in English - Few lines on Potato

• Potato is a vegetable that is found almost all over the world.
• Potato is the most important of all green vegetables.
• Potato is also called the king of vegetables.
• It is quite common to cook potato curry in our homes.
• Eating potatoes is very beneficial for our health.
• Vitamins present in potatoes make our health healthy.
• By eating potatoes, strength increases inside us.
• The ability to swim increases by eating boiled potatoes.
• The chips sold in the market are made of crunchy potatoes only.
• French fries and chili potatoes are more popular in the form of fast food, which is made of potatoes.
• Potato comes under the category of vegetables.
• The shape of the potato is round.
• Potatoes are grown in the fields.
• There are two types of potatoes, red and white.
• Potato plants are above ground whereas potatoes grow inside the ground.
• When the potatoes are fully developed, they are dug and removed from the ground.
• Cultivating potatoes is a very laborious job.
• Farmers grow potatoes with hard work.
• Vitamin A and Vitamin D are found in abundance in potatoes.

• Potato is a type of vegetable.
• Potato is the king of vegetables.
• We usually eat potatoes as a vegetable.
• Apart from vegetables, many other dishes are made from potatoes.
• Potato chips, pakoras, chili potatoes, aloo tikkis, aloo chaat, etc. are made from potatoes.
• Potato is definitely used in any vegetable made in the house.
• Like Aloo Matar, Aloo Gobi, Aloo Brinjal, Aloo Tomato, etc.
• No matter what the season, potato is available in the vegetable market in all seasons.
• We can buy potatoes from the vegetable market anytime.
• Potatoes are of two types, white and red.

F.A.Q ( Frequently Asked Questions )

• what is a potato?
• What vitamins are found in potatoes?
• How is the shape of a potato?
• What can we make with potatoes?
• Where are potatoes grown?

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The article is about short essay on Potato in English. The level of these 10 sentences about Potato is medium so any student can write on this topic. This short essay on Potato is generally useful for class 1, class 2, and class 3.

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10 Lines on Potato in English | Short Essay on Potato

10 Lines on Potato in English | Short Essay on Potato 

Potato is a vegetable that is commonly eaten all over the world.

It is native to South America and has been cultivated for thousands of years.

Potatoes come in many different shapes, sizes, and colours, including brown, red, and yellow.

They are rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.

Potatoes can be boiled, fried, mashed, or roasted and are used in many different dishes.

French fries, potato chips, and mashed potatoes are popular potato-based snacks and side dishes. 

Potatoes are used in many dishes worldwide.

Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of potatoes in India.

China is the largest producer of potatoes in the world.

About a third of the world’s potatoes are produced in China and India.

National Potato Day is celebrated on August 19 every year worldwide.

Potatoes are also used to make flour, vodka, and other alcoholic beverages.

They are an important crop for farmers and can be stored for long periods without spoiling.

Potato plants grow best in cool climates and are often grown in regions with mild temperatures.

Potatoes are a versatile and nutritious food that has become a staple in many different cuisines around the world.

10 Lines on Potato in English 

Potato is a popular root vegetable.

It is an excellent source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber.

Potato is cultivated on a large scale in India.

Potato plants live above the ground, while potatoes grow underground.

When the potato crop is ready, it is dug out of the ground.

Potatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium, and other essential minerals.

Potato is eaten in every household in India.

Potato is one of the most consumed food items.

They can be cooked in various ways, such as boiling, frying or roasting.

Potato chips and French fries are popular snacks made from potatoes.

Potatoes come in different colours, including white, red, and yellow.

Potatoes are widely cultivated in many countries, including the United States, India, and China.

Potatoes are good for health.

Potatoes are used in a wide variety of cuisines around the world.

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Essay on Potato

Students are often asked to write an essay on Potato in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Potato

The origin of potato.

Potatoes were first discovered in South America, particularly in Peru. They have been grown for over 7,000 years by the indigenous people there.

Potato Cultivation

Potato plants are usually grown from other potato plants. They need a cool but sunny environment to grow well.

Importance of Potato

Potatoes are a staple food in many countries. They are rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C, and minerals.

Uses of Potato

Potatoes can be cooked in many ways, like boiling, baking, or frying. They are also used to make snacks and chips.

250 Words Essay on Potato

Introduction to potato.

The potato, scientifically known as Solanum tuberosum, is a starchy tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum family. Native to the Americas, potatoes have become integral to global food security, with a cultivation history spanning approximately 7,000 years.

Cultivation and Varieties

Potatoes are cultivated in over 100 countries, with China, India, and Russia leading in production. They thrive in diverse climates, from temperate regions to tropical highlands. Over 4,000 varieties exist, each with unique characteristics like color, size, texture, and taste.

Nutritional Value and Culinary Uses

Potatoes are nutritionally dense, providing essential nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber. They are also a significant source of carbohydrates, fueling the body’s energy needs. The culinary versatility of potatoes is remarkable. They can be boiled, baked, fried, or mashed, and are a staple in numerous global cuisines.

Impact on History and Society

The potato has had profound historical and societal impacts. The Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s, caused by a potato disease, led to mass migration and death, highlighting the crop’s significance. Today, potatoes contribute to food security and economic stability in many regions.

Future of Potato Cultivation

As climate change threatens food systems, the potato’s adaptability makes it a resilient crop choice. Scientists are exploring genetically modified varieties to increase yield and resistance to diseases, ensuring the potato’s continued role in feeding the world.

In conclusion, the potato is more than a humble vegetable. Its cultivation, nutritional benefits, historical impact, and future prospects underscore its importance in global food systems.

500 Words Essay on Potato

The historical significance of potatoes.

Potatoes, scientifically known as Solanum tuberosum, are tuberous crops that originated from the Andean region of South America. They are now cultivated worldwide due to their adaptability to diverse climates and soil types. The significance of potatoes cannot be overstated, as they have played a crucial role in historical events, such as the Irish Potato Famine, and have been a staple food in various cultures.

Potato Cultivation and Varieties

Potatoes grow best in well-drained, loose soil. They are propagated from seed potatoes, which are small tubers or pieces of tubers that contain at least one eye. The plant’s growth cycle is approximately 70 to 120 days, depending on the variety and environmental conditions.

There are over 4000 varieties of potatoes, each with unique characteristics. These varieties can be broadly categorized into russets, reds, whites, yellows (also called Yukon), purples, fingerlings, and petites. Each type has its distinct flavor, texture, and culinary uses. For instance, russets are ideal for baking and frying, while reds are typically used for roasting and steaming.

Nutritional Value and Health Benefits

Despite their health benefits, potatoes have been criticized for their high glycemic index, which means they can rapidly increase blood sugar levels. However, the glycemic index of potatoes can be significantly reduced by cooking methods such as boiling and then cooling, which increases the resistant starch content.

Potatoes in Global Cuisine

Potatoes have been integrated into the culinary traditions of many cultures. In the United States, they are a popular side dish, often served mashed, baked, or fried. In the United Kingdom, they are a staple in traditional meals like fish and chips and shepherd’s pie. In India, potatoes are a key ingredient in aloo gobi and samosas. In Peru, the birthplace of potatoes, they are used in dishes such as causa and papa a la huancaína.

The Future of Potatoes

In conclusion, the humble potato is more than just a staple food. It is a crop that has shaped history, provides essential nutrients, and is a key ingredient in global cuisine. As we look to the future, the potato’s role in addressing food security and sustainability issues will be pivotal.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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10 Lines on Potato in English

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10 Lines on Potato

Welcome to Our blog in this post we are sharing some informative line about potato. This will helpful for students in their learning and school homework also. Check out the lines:

How to Write Short Essay on Potato ?

• Potato is a vegetable. 
• It is round in shape. 
• It grows underground. 
• It is basically a root which is swollen. 
• The outer part is brown in color and the inner part is white.
• It is one of the most famous vegetables in the world. 
• It is consumed in almost every country.
• Potatoes are used in making chips which are very popular among the children. 
• For making chips, the potatoes are sliced into thin pieces and then dried. Flavors are added and then packed.
• There are many of types of potatoes. Each has their own color and taste.

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Thanks shivi for this post. Also see this 10 sentences on banana in hindi written by my team member anshika

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Essay On Food In 10 Lines, Short and Long Paragraphs For Children

Key Points To Remember When Writing An Essay On Food For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on food for kids, a paragraph on food for children, short essay on food in english for kids, long essay on importance of food for children, what will your child learn from the essay on food.

Food is the fuel that keeps us running throughout the day, and it also supports the body’s metabolic process and ensures we remain healthy. Children need to understand the importance of food to build healthy eating habits in the long term. They also need to learn that the body needs energy from healthy food to conduct day-to-day activities. Writing an essay on food in English is a great way to get kids acquainted with important information on the different food categories and their role in our diets. In this blog, we have put together a few examples of essays on food for classes 1, 2 & 3 that are easy to understand and informative.

Food is critical for the survival of every living being on earth. Here are some important to keep in mind when writing a food essay:

• Long essays on foods require the students to memorise important facts about food groups and nutrients.
• Always add an introductory and concluding paragraph for a long format.
• An essay should reflect a healthy attitude towards food and eating.

An essay about food for class 1 and class 2 can be short and focus on simple ideas children have about food. Here is an example of a few lines on food:

• Food is the substance we eat every day for energy and strength.
• There are many different types of food, such as fruits, vegetables, rice, and pasta.
• We need to eat a variety of foods to get all the essential nutrients the body needs.
• Not eating a healthy and balanced diet leads to weakness and deficiency diseases.
• All children love eating delicious food, although sometimes it may not be beneficial.
• We must eat more natural foods and less junk to maintain good health.
• Food is divided into categories such as grains, proteins, fruits, vegetables, and dairy.
• Different food category gives different types of nutrition the body needs.
• Junk food is tasty, but it is also harmful to our health.
• To stay healthy and fit, we must consume a balanced diet and little junk.

Younger kids are expected to write small paragraphs initially on the given topic for a better understanding of the subject. Here is an example of a short paragraph about food:

Food is one of the most basic needs for all human beings, apart from clothes and shelter. It is necessary to give us the energy to function and maintain the bodily process that keeps us alive. To stay healthy, eating various foods that provide essential nutrition for the body is crucial. The body needs carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to maintain all the organs functioning well. Excess junk deprives us of healthy nutrition, leading to obesity and deficiency diseases. The best diet balances different types of food and minimises junk.

A short essay should be easy to write once they have mastered paragraph essays. Here’s an essay on food for classes 1, 2 and 3:

Food is like breathing; we take it for granted as we get to eat a meal three times a day and snacks in between. But, the reality is that this is one of the basic necessities for which we work really hard every day. We often go for the food we find tasty and pleasing without considering its nutritional content. The main goal of eating food is to provide the body with all the essential nutrients it needs to function correctly. Therefore we must eat a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Different food groups contain varying levels of essential nutrients, so eating various foods is crucial to get all the nutrients. Our diets should have grains for carbohydrates, seeds, pulses, and meats for protein, fruits, and vegetables for vitamins, minerals, and fibres, and dairy for important fats and protein. A balanced diet is a way to lead a healthy and happy life.

A long essay for class 3 is a bit more advanced as it involves balancing facts with a good narrative. Here is an example of an extended food essay:

Food constitutes different types of stuff we eat that are sourced from plants and animals. Humans are omnivores and consume a broad range of food items sourced from agricultural fields, forests, oceans, and farms. Food provides the energy to a person for proper physical and mental functioning, and every nutrient helps build and repair the body.

The food we eat can be broadly categorised as fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. These categories of foods contain all the nutrients the body needs. For example, grains are a source of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, while meats are a great source of protein and micronutrients. It is important to consume all the food categories as part of a balanced diet to maintain good health and growth.

Carbohydrates in food give us the energy that is needed to perform everyday activities. Proteins are essential for the growth and repair of the body after injury or exercise. Fats are a dense source of energy and a medium for absorbing several fat-soluble nutrients. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients needed for all kinds of cellular processes. It is believed that a good diet consists of high protein, fats, and a good amount of carbohydrates, while fruits and vegetables give vitamins and minerals.

In today’s time, people consume plenty of fast food and junk food which consists of high sugar, high sodium, and trans fats, which are all unhealthy. Eating excess junk food makes people feel full and avoid eating other nutritious foods that the body requires. Eating junk food is harmful as it leads to obesity and other health problems in the long run.

Ideally, people should eat healthy foods from a wide source and avoid junk altogether. But since fast food is part of our modern world, it can be consumed in low quantities but not at the expense of healthy foods.

Why Is Food Important??

Here are some of the reasons food is important:

• Gives Energy: The average adult needs around 2000 calories a day. Food groups such as carbohydrates and fats are broken down by the body to produce energy.
• Promotes Growth: Proteins are needed for the body to build new cells and tissue, which promotes growth.
• Builds Immunity: Vitamin C and other nutrients are necessary to defend the body against the attack of diseases.
• Builds Bones and Muscles: In adults, proteins and calcium help strengthen bones and balances muscles density.
• Maintaining Body Weight: A balanced diet is needed to maintain a healthy and functioning body, and it is crucial to maintain a balanced body-height-weight ratio.

What Are Different Types of Foods?

The different types of food sources include:

• Cereals: Cereals are a source of carbohydrates. Examples of cereals include corn, millets, ragi, etc.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of plant fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Examples: apples, guava, papaya, brinjal, etc
• Dairy: Dairy products include milk, cheese, and butter. They are a rich source of proteins, fats, and calcium.
• Meat and Fish: Meats and fish are an excellent source of proteins for most of the world’s population. Examples include fatty fish, sea foods, chicken, beef, mutton, and pork.

What Are Some World-Famous Cuisines?

Three cuisines famous around the world include:

• Italian Cuisine: Italian cuisine originates from Italy and includes plenty of cheese in most of its items. Some examples include pasta, pizza, and lasagna.
• Indian Cuisine: Indian cuisines are famous for their flavourful spices and variety. Some popular foods include curry, biryani, roti, dal tadka, idli sambhar, etc.
• Chinese Cuisine: Chinese cuisines include a variety of spices native to china, and they are also rich in herbs. Some famous examples are noodles, dumplings, sushi, etc.

Basic Tips For Eating Healthy Foods

Here are some tips for eating healthy every day:

• Eat a variety of food to gain as many nutrients as possible. It’s important to include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
• Always buy and cook fresh vegetables and meats. Stale foods have low nutritional value.
• Eat in small portions more frequently during the day. Avoid stuffing yourself.
• Cut down on eating excess refined sugars and carbohydrates as they lead to obesity.
• Avoid junk food as much as possible.
• Add healthy fats to the diet and cut down on trans fats.

The food essays are meant to set an example for essay writing. Your child can learn facts about foods as well as structure such essays. Using the above essays as an example, they can easily write their own.

1. Which Nutrients Are Important For Human Body?

The body requires carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water to stay healthy.

2. Why Is Junk Food Called So?

Junk foods lack most of the essential nutrients for the body. Instead, they are full of unhealthy fats, sugars, and salts, and these foods only satisfy our taste buds and fill our stomachs.

Food is imperative for survival, and healthy food is necessary for vitality and productivity. The above examples and facts will give students a good idea about food and essay writing.

Essay On ‘My Favourite Food for Kids Essay on Healthy Food for Class 1, 2 and 3 Children Harmful Effects of Junk Food Essay for Lower Primary Classes

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28 Potato Facts For Kids That Will Amaze You

From Ireland to India and Mexico to Malaysia, potatoes are an essential part of cuisine around the world. They are versatile, nutritious, and grown in more than 4000 varieties. But did you know that there’s more to these humble tubers than meets the eye?

This blog post introduces 28 awesome facts about potatoes that will amaze and delight kids and adults alike. From where they come from to how many different types there are, you’ll be a potato expert in no time.

So let’s jump right in and get discovering!

1. Potatoes are tubers, not vegetables!

Potatoes are the single most common item in almost every kitchen worldwide and are part of the staple diet in most countries. However, most people still don’t know what they are.

Contrary to popular belief, potatoes aren’t truly vegetables or even root vegetables. However, they are still called so as they come from a plant and are grown for their edible root, which botanically makes them vegetables.

Potatoes fall into a different category altogether, called tubers . Tubers are swollen, irregularly shaped plant parts or organs that store energy for the plant.

2. The term “potato” has Spanish origins

Did you know that the English term Potato that we so commonly use for these tubers has been derived from their Spanish name: patata ? What’s even more fascinating is that they’re still called patata in many parts of Spain.

3. Not all potatoes are yellow!

Since potatoes are an important part of most of our meals, it’s understandable if you might get bored looking at the same yellow potatoes daily.

Well, don’t worry because we’ve got the best solution for you! The next time you go to the vegetable market, remember to look for purple or red potatoes.

Not only will they be a refreshing change, but these potatoes are also loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, which are great for your immune health.

4. Potatoes were domesticated around 8,000 years ago

Potatoes were domesticated around 8,000 years ago in the South American Andes by a powerful tribe called the Inca Indians. However, they were only brought into Europe in the mid-1500s, after which these vegetables spread throughout the world.

5. Under ideal conditions, potatoes can even last up to 1 year!

Would you ever have thought any vegetable could have a shelf life of over a year? Well, potatoes can. But the effort that goes into making these veggies last that long is something you’re unlikely to want to do at home.

For potatoes to live that long, they need to be stored at 39° F. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. First, you’ll need to dry them properly to eliminate any risk of rotting. Then, the temperature of their storage is gradually decreased over time.

And when it’s time to get them out, you need to gradually bring their temperature back to room temperature. We understand that it’s a lot of hassle for your home, but for large-scale commercial producers of these veggies with both planning and machinery in place, it’s nothing.

6. Potatoes are native to Peru and Bolivia

Potatoes are native to the Andean region of South America, which includes Peru and Bolivia. They were first domesticated by the indigenous people of the region, and have been a staple food in the area for thousands of years. Potatoes were introduced to Europe in the 16th century, and have since become a staple food in many parts of the world.

7. There are more than 4,000 varieties of potatoes

How many types of potatoes can you name off the top of your head? Well, let’s see, there are Russet Potatoes, Fingerling Potatoes, the potatoes they make those fries with, and that’s about it, right? Not really.

You’d be surprised to learn that besides the famous varieties, there are about 4,000 varieties of potatoes overall! About 80 of these are available in the United Kingdom, and over 200 types are found in the United States.

8. Sweet potatoes aren’t real potatoes

Sweet potatoes are often mistaken for potatoes, which is an understandable slip-up, considering their names. However, that doesn’t mean it is true. Sweet potatoes are scientifically categorized as root vegetables and are called tuberous roots.

This might make you think that potatoes and sweet potatoes are similar, but the only physical similarity between the two plants is that they grow underground. They’re entirely different in terms of density, taste, and nutrition.

9. Potatoes are the third-most important food crop in the world!

We all know potatoes are commonly consumed around the globe, but what is the extent of their consumption?

Potatoes are the third-most important food crop, after rice and wheat. More than a billion people eat potatoes around the world, and the worldwide production of this vegetable exceeds 300 million metric tons!

10. China is the largest potato-producing country in the world

Although China isn’t even close to where potatoes originated, it didn’t stop the country from producing the most potatoes worldwide! China contributes to about 22% of the global potato production on average; in 2019, about 94 million metric tons of potatoes were grown in China!

This is due to the large amount of arable land and the favorable climate conditions in the country. In addition, the Chinese government has invested heavily in the potato industry, resulting in higher production levels.

11. Idaho is the largest potato-producing state in the United States

In the United States, Idaho has left Maine behind in potato production, with more than 5 million metric tons of potatoes grown yearly. This also means that Idaho provides about one-third of the United States’ total potato production. For these reasons, the state has aptly been named the Potato State.

12. There’s a Potato Museum in the Potato State!

We just learned that Idaho is the Potato State of the United States. So, if you had to guess where would the Potato Museum be located in the country, what would be your first guess? You’ve got it right; it’s in Idaho!

The Idaho Potato Museum was established in the city of Blackfoot in 1913 and displays various potato souvenirs, of which the most significant one is the largest potato crisp in the world! It was donated to the museum by Pringles.

13. Potatoes are grown on every continent except Antarctica and the Arctic circle!

Did you know that potatoes are grown everywhere except Antarctica and the Arctic circle? It’s true! In fact, they’re grown in every country on each continent except those places!

This means that potatoes can be grown in a wide range of climates, from cold to hot. They are a versatile and hardy crop that can be grown in many different types of soil.

14. Potatoes don’t make you fat

Potatoes are mostly associated with weight gain and snacking and are, therefore, considered unhealthy. But the reputation given to this vegetable is harsh and misinformed. In fact, potatoes literally contain 0 grams of fat!

The paranoia around weight gain from potatoes stems from its carbohydrate and caloric content, which is admittedly high. One medium-sized potato contains 265 calories and 61 grams of carbs.

However, these are also healthy nutrients that are important for our bodies. To get potatoes into your diet the healthy way, try baking, roasting, and boiling your potatoes instead of frying them. As long as you lead a moderately active life and don’t overeat potatoes, you’ll be in good shape.

15. Potatoes have more Potassium than bananas!

You might’ve heard people saying bananas are rich in potassium, an electrolyte. Gym-goers and athletes eat a lot of bananas (among other things), as electrolytes energize their minds and bodies instantly.

Well, a medium-sized potato contains 620 milligrams of potassium, which is more than a banana! Potatoes are also packed with antioxidants and Vitamins B6 and C, but you need to eat the skin for maximum nutrition retention.

16. Potatoes have various cooking applications

There are hundreds of ways to prepare potatoes, from street style to gourmet. These veggies are used in curries, dips, dumplings, soups, salads, and pancakes, to name a few of their common uses. They’re particularly beloved in their fried form as fries and in tacos, burgers, and sandwiches.

And who can forget our favorite chips? They come in various flavors that explode on your tongue and always leave you wanting more. Potato starch is a common ingredient as a thickener in sauces and stews and as a binding agent in cake mixes, doughs, and ice creams.

17. All the green parts of a potato plant are toxic

If you’ve ever seen the green buds on a potato, you might have thought how intriguing they look. But besides their looks, nothing is intriguing about these little tubers. Those buds and all other green parts of a potato plant are poisonous.

The green pigment contains a toxic ingredient called solanine, which can even be toxic to your health in even small amounts. So, if you see a potato slightly greenish under the skin, do not consume it.

18. Potato chips are America’s second-favorite snack!

According to a survey conducted in 2021, potato chips are America’s second favorite snack at 58% of the votes, while cookies take first place at 59%.

However, that doesn’t mean that they’re good for our health. Even though they’re delicious, potato chips are generally fried and processed. Too many of these can be unhealthy for you in more ways than one.

19. Potatoes and tobacco are relatives!

Could you have thought that potatoes, a staple food in the majority of the world, could ever be related to tobacco, a plant that is the major ingredient in cigarettes? Well, the truth is, both of them belong to the Nightshade family and, therefore are relatives.

However, there’s no reason for you to worry because the Nightshade family is quite diverse and contains many other vegetables you commonly eat, including tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.

20. Potatoes are the first food to be grown in space!

If you’ve seen the movie Interstellar, you know how long space flights can be. Growing food aboard space stations has been one of NASA’s interests for years since it’s one of the essential sustainability requirements for astronauts in space.

In 1995, the astronauts in the Microgravity Astroculture Laboratory on the Space Shuttle Columbia grew five small potatoes while in orbit!

21. Potatoes are also used to make vodka!

Alcoholic drinks are made from the fermented yeasts in sugar, fruits, and vegetables! Fermentation is also the reason why they’re so high in calories. Vodka is a clear spirit that is typically made from grain or potatoes. While most vodkas are made from grain, some are made from potatoes. Potato vodka is said to have a smoother flavor than grain vodka.

22. The heaviest potato ever grown weighed over 10 pounds!

How heavy do you think a potato can be? According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the record is currently at 10 pounds 14 ounces (4.98 kilograms). This potato was grown by Peter Glazebrook and was weighed at a National Gardening Show in the United Kingdom in 2011.

23. Potato flowers were brought into fashion by the last French Queen

Many of you might already know who Marie Antoinette was; she was the last queen of France who ruled the country between 1774 and 1792, right before the French Revolution.

While most of us know her from her famous remark of “Let them eat Cake!” there’s another thing that the last queen had popularized back in her time. She had once received a bouquet of potato flowers and came to like them so much that she’d make public appearances in outfits decorated by them.

Inspired by her fashion, her subjects also started following the potato flower fashion trend, which probably lasted until the French Revolution broke out.

24. During the Klondike Gold Rush, potatoes were traded for gold!

We agree that potatoes are superfoods, but would you ever trade gold for them? No one in their right mind would, right? Well, the answer to this question could be subjective.

Surely someone who can easily buy these veggies at a local store nearby for less than a dollar would call such a thing hilarious. But if you could ask the freezing miners from the Klondike Gold Rush (1896-99) what was more valuable to them, they’d pick potatoes without a second thought.

These miners were already far from home, struggling in the mines, and were threatened by the risk of Scurvy. Under such circumstances, only potatoes, with their high Vitamin C content, could save their lives, not gold. They were, thus, happy to trade one for the other.

25. Potatoes are responsible for the Great Famine of Ireland!

The Great Famine, also called The Great Hunger and The Irish Potato Famine (1845-1849), was a period of widespread disease and starvation. Approximately a million people died, and another million fled the country, which led to a 20-25% fall in Ireland’s population.

The main reason behind this famine was a disease called potato blight, which destroyed the crops, resulting in mass starvation.

When potatoes were initially introduced in Ireland, the people didn’t exactly welcomed these veggies into their diet. But as the food demands in London grew, they resigned to these crops as they were quick to grow and took up comparatively less farming space.

26. Potatoes don’t float in regular water, but they do float in salt or sugar water

Have you ever wondered whether or not potatoes can float in water? First, let us tell you what floating on water is all about: density. If the density of an object is lesser than the density of water, it floats. On the other hand, if the object has a higher density than water, it’ll sink to the bottom.

Since potatoes have a higher density than regular water, they’ll definitely sink when put in a water-filled tub. But when you mix salt or sugar in water, its density increases, which means a potato will float in salt water!

27. Two National Potato Days are celebrated annually in the United States!

You might’ve heard nutritious fruits and vegetables getting their own days of celebration and recognition. However, potatoes are not like the rest: two National Potato Days are celebrated every year in the United States!

On August 19th and October 27th of every year, potato farmers and enthusiasts come together from around the world on online forums to celebrate this vegetable.

28. The year 2008 is considered as the International Year of the Potato!

Besides having two days for themselves, potatoes also have the year 2008 to themselves as a way of celebrating their utility!

According to the United Nations (which declared the International Year of the Potato), potatoes are a staple food loved by all and have played a vital role in the rise of the West. Potatoes have also helped in eradicating hunger around the world through their comparatively quick, non-fussy growth and nutritional value.

Related articles:

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Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix

Lesson plan, grade levels, type of companion resource, content area standards, agricultural literacy outcomes, common core, potatoes: more than fries, grade level.

Students investigate potato varieties, explore potato plants, determine how potatoes grow, and make a potato recipe.  Grades K-2

Estimated Time

Materials needed.

• 5-6 different potatoes (i.e., gold, russet, red, sweet potato, fingerling, yellow, purple)
• Bag for potatoes
• Cutting board

Activity 1: Growing Potatoes

• Potatoes video
• Seed potatoes (one piece with an eye for each student)
• Plastic cups (1 for each student)
• Potting soil
• Permanent markers
• Tray for cups

Activity 2: Potato Plant

• Potato Plant Diagram

Activity 3: Eating Potatoes

• Electric frying pan
• Small paper plates
• Gold or yellow potatoes (about 1 for 4 students)
• Dried oregano
• Potato Song Sheet

potato eyes: sprouts on a potato from which new potatoes can grow

seed potato: a potato tuber grown for its buds which are used to start new plants

tuber: a thickened underground portion of a stem or rhizome which bears buds

Did You Know?

• Russet potatoes are the most commonly used variety of potato in the United States. They are brown in color and are used to make commercial French fries. 1
• If a potato plant flowers and is pollinated, it produces a fruit that resembles a green cherry tomato. But don't eat it! The fruit contains a high amount of solanine and is toxic. 2
• In 1995, potato plants were taken into space with the space shuttle Columbia. This marked the first time any food was ever grown in space. 3

Background Agricultural Connections

There are two general groups of potatoes—Irish potatoes and sweet potatoes:

• The Irish potato is one name for what we typically call a potato. It comes in many varieties, sizes, and colors.
• Sweet potatoes are a distinctly different food. We sometimes call sweet potatoes "yams," but this word is better used for another food commonly grown in other parts of the world.

For both of these types of potatoes, we thank the Native peoples of the Americas. The Irish potato was made popular in the US by immigrants from Ireland. However, it was originally grown in the highlands of the Andes. The sweet potato was first cultivated in Central America.

The potato is not a root but a storage area that is part of the plant's underground stem. Vigorous potato plants that have plenty of sunlight, water, and nutrients from the soil produce more energy than the growing plant can use at one time. The plant stores the excess energy in oval packages, called tubers (the potatoes). These tubers provide the plant energy to regrow in the spring. When the greenery starts to wither and turn brown, the potatoes are ready to harvest.

After they are harvested, potatoes can be stored for 2-3 months and will remain in a dormant state if kept in a cool, dark location. When moved to a warmer place, the potatoes will begin to sprout in one to three weeks. Sprouts grow from the eyes  of the potato, which are actually nodes on this enlarged, underground stem. Each node is capable of developing into a branch that can grow up through the soil and emerge into a green, leafy shoot. As the branches grow, they use up the energy from the original seed potato, which will shrink and shrivel as its starch is consumed. Soon the branches of the plant will grow bushy and have many new leaves that all produce energy through photosynthesis. At this point, new potatoes will begin to form on the underground sections of the branches that grew upward from the seed potato.

Potatoes produce more pounds of protein per acre than corn, rice, wheat, or oats. They are packed with nutrients, low in fat, generous in bulk, and efficiently packaged in their own skins. They can be prepared in many different ways and are delicious.

• What are all of these? (Potatoes)
• What do you notice about these potatoes?  (They are spherical, have eyes, are different colors, etc.)
• What else do you know about potatoes?  (They grow underground, they can be mashed or made into French fries or potato chips, etc.)
• What do you wonder about potatoes?
• Dissect potatoes by cutting several potatoes (purple, gold, and orange sweet potatoes are especially exciting) in half and give sections to the students (individuals or groups). Ask the students to inspect the potato section(s) and share what they see.
• Tell the students that they will be investigating and learning more about potatoes in this lesson.

Explore and Explain

• If a student doesn't mention that potatoes are most often not grown from seeds, share this fact with them—most potatoes are actually grown from potato pieces called "seed potatoes."
• Show the students the eyes on a potato. Explain that each seed potato has an eye. New growth or sprouts grow from the eyes and will grow into potato plants.
• Cut potatoes into four pieces, with an eye on each piece.
•   Give each student a large plastic cup. Use permanent markers to label each cup with the student's name. Use scissors to cut small holes in the bottom of the cup.
• Each student fills their cup with soil.
• Pass out potato pieces and tell students to put them halfway down the cup. The potato piece (seed potato) should be completely covered with soil.
• Place the cups, labeled by name, on trays and place in a warm place like a windowsill.
• The cups should be watered until water is dripping out of the bottom of the cup.
• After a few days, the students can dig up their seed potato and observe, record, and make predictions. This can be done every few days for one or more weeks.
• When potato shoots/plants start coming above the soil, the students should take the cups home for replanting in a larger container or garden space.
• Discuss with the students what the potato plants need to survive and produce potatoes for us to eat.  (Air, light, water, and nutrients)

Activity 2: Potato Plant

• Flower:  location in which pollination takes place and seeds are produced
• Leaves:  soaks up the sun's energy and makes food for the plant
• Stem:  transports water and food to other parts of the plant
• Roots: anchor the plant and   absorb water and nutrients 
• Tuber:  special part of potato plants (and a few other plants) that stores food; the part of the potato plant that we eat
• Start with two chairs. Everything below the chairs represents underground.
• Pick one student to represent the seed potato and have them curl up on the floor between the two chairs.
• Pick two students to represent the stems and leaves. Have them sit on the chairs, put their arms in the air, and make leaf shapes with their hands.
• Pick three students to represent the roots. Have them lie flat on their backs on the ground, radiating away from the seed potato.
• Have three students curl up on their side to represent potatoes amongst the roots.
•  When everyone is in place, have the remaining students point to each part of the plant as you say its name.
• Thank the potato plant actors and ask them to return to their chairs. 
• As a class, discuss how the potato plant parts work together to produce a delicious and nutritious vegetable for us to eat.
• Ask the students to think of all the ways they can eat potatoes (mashed, French fries, tator tots, potato chips, etc.). Explain to the students that they are going to follow a recipe to make Golden Oregano Potatoes.
• Show the students the equipment and ingredients (cutting board, knife, electric skillet, spatula, potatoes, water, salt, and oregano).
• Discuss how the potatoes will be prepared to be cooked. Explain that the potatoes must be cleaned and scrubbed (it is recommended to have the potatoes pre-scrubbed). The potato skin should be kept on. Potato skin is good for us because it contains vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Cut the potatoes in 1/4" slices (one slice per student, plus a few extras).
• Begin cooking by placing the slices into an even layer on the electric skillet. Sprinkle the bottom layer with oregano and salt and cover the bottom layer only with water. Repeat (except for the water) for a second layer. Cook for 10-15 minutes. Water may need to be added. The potatoes are done when a knife easily slides through a slice. Serve slices on small plates with a fork.
• While the potatoes are cooking, lead the students in the easy-to-learn Potato Song . This song is about eating a different potato dish every day of the week. Students can add their own ideas about what to cook. To hear the song, watch The Potato Song video.
• Tell the students, "We eat a lot of potatoes today but in the old days, potatoes were so important for some families they would eat them almost every day—especially during the winter. Today we will learn a song about that time."
• Teach the refrain first: We all like to eat potatoes, eat potatoes, eat potatoes. We all like to eat potatoes, eat them when they're hot.  (On the word "hot," students clap.)
• Teach the first verse, which is about Sunday to Wednesday: Sundays we'll have baked potatoes, Mondays we'll have stew. Tuesdays we'll have mashed potatoes, Wednesdays we'll have soup. (To remember each dish, teach a motion to go along with each day. For example, hold a hot potato for Sunday, or bring a spoon to your mouth for Wednesday.)
• Generate three more ideas with the class for verse 2: Thursday we'll have _________________, Fridays we'll have __________________, Saturdays we'll have __________________, Then we start all over.

• Cut potatoes in half.
• Have students create simple designs to carve into the meat of the potato (e.g., star, heart, circle).
• Help students carve the designs in the potatoes using plastic knives.
• Mix water-based paints in aluminum pie pans or other shallow dishes.
• Instruct students to dip the potato surface into the paint, press to the surface of the paper, and carefully lift the potato, leaving the print on the paper.
• Have the students weigh different sizes of potatoes using scales and compare the weights to various classroom materials (bottle of glue, linking cubes, etc.). Then instruct the students to write sentences to show their results (e.g., My potato is lighter than _______________. My potato is heavier than _____________.)

After conducting these activities, review and summarize the following key concepts:

• Most potatoes are grown from potato pieces called "seed potatoes."
• Each seed potato has an eye. New growth or sprouts grow from the eyes and will grow into potato plants.
• Potato plants need to air, light, water, and nutrients to survive and produce potatoes for us to eat. 
• Potato plants have flowers, leaves, stems, roots, and tubers. Tubers are   the part of potato plant that stores food and are the part of the potato plant that we eat.
• You can eat potatoes mashed, baked, or fried. French fries, tator tots, and potato chips are made from potatoes.
• https://potatogoodness.com/potato-basics-week-wondering-which-potato-variety-to-use/
• https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_are_those_fruit_growing_on_my_potato_plants
• https://mobile-cuisine.com/did-you-know/potato-fun-facts/

Acknowledgements

Parts of the Background Agricultural Connections section taken from the Powerful Potato lesson written by Pat Thompson (Oklahoma Agriculture in the Classroom) and adapted by Sara Hunt (Utah Agriculture in the Classroom).

Recommended Companion Resources

• George Crum and the Saratoga Chip
• George the Farmer
• How Does it Grow? Video Series
• Mr. Crum's Potato Predicament
• No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas
• Oliver's Vegetables
• Potatoes for Pirate Pearl
• Sweetpotato Ag Mag
• The Life of a Potato
• Two Old Potatoes and Me

Uli Koester

Organization

Midwest Food Connection

Agriculture and the Environment

• Describe how farmers use land to grow crops and support livestock (T1.K-2.a)

Food, Health, and Lifestyle

• Identify healthy food options (T3.K-2.a)
• Recognize that agriculture provides our most basic necessities: food, fiber, energy and shelter (T3.K-2.b)

Plants and Animals for Food, Fiber & Energy

• Explain how farmers work with the lifecycle of plants and animals (planting/breeding) to harvest a crop (T2.K-2.a)

Education Content Standards

Science (science).

K-2-ETS1: Engineering Design

• K-2-ETS1-2    Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.

K-LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

• K-LS1-1    Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.

Common Core Connections

Anchor standards: speaking and listening.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

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Potato, Egg, and Coffee Bean - A Short Story for Kids

Introduction to potato, egg and coffee bean story.

The potato, egg, and coffee bean is a real-life inspirational story for kids and teens. The story is about a daughter who constantly faced challenges and difficulties in life. When she shared her problem with her father, her father explained how to face difficulties in life with a real -example of boiling potatoes, eggs, and coffee beans. 

The story shares a firm moral that we must share with our kids to help them to learn to face challenges and difficulties in life. Read the complete story below and know the morals shared by the story.

Potato, Egg and Coffee Bean Story

Short Story on Potato, Egg and Coffee Bean

Once upon a time, a daughter complained to her daughter that her life was sorrowful. She got tired of struggling and fighting in her life all the time. It seems that life is full of problems. As one problem gets solved, another problem soon follows. 

Listening to this, the father asked her daughter to follow him to the kitchen. In the kitchen, the father filled three pots with water and placed the pots one above the other on a high fire. Once the three pots started boiling, he placed potatoes, eggs and ground coffee beans in three different pots.

The daughter impatiently waited to see what her father was doing. After 20 minutes, all the three burners were turned off by her father. The father further took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a  bowl. He then pulled out the eggs and placed them in a bowl. He further took the coffee out and placed them in a cup. 

Turning to her, he asked, “Daughter, what do you see?”

“Potatoes, eggs, coffee beans in three different bowls,” she hastily replied.

The father then asked her to have a sip of coffee. The rich aroma of coffee brought a smile to her face.

“What does this mean?” The daughter asked her father.

He explained that potatoes, eggs, and coffee beans had faced the same difficulties- the boiling water. However, each one’s reaction is different. The potato went in strong but became weak and soft in boiling water.

The egg was weak with the thin outer shell protecting its inner part i.e. liquid part until it was placed in boiling water. Then the inner part of the egg also became hard.

The ground coffee beans were unique. After they are exposed to boiling water, they change their color and create something new.

The father further asked his daughter, “Which are you? How do you respond when difficulty knocks on your door? Do you think of yourself as a  potato, an egg, or a bean?”

Moral of The Story

The story of potatoes, beans, eggs, and coffee states that there are several things that happen to us, and happen around us in life. But, what truly matters is how we respond to the situation when something happens to us. 

The story encourages us to fill our lives with love, big dreams, inspiration, power, integrity, gratitude, etc. so that when you fall into the boiling adversities of life, you won’t get too weak or too hard. Instead, you become magical and spread some positive magic such that one problem gets solved, and another problem soon follows.

Everyone faces some or other problems, but every individual has a different choice on how to respond to the problem or situation. You should teach your child that whenever they face difficulties in life, instead of becoming weak or soft, stay strong and hard. They should always try to give new meaning to their life. Children should know they have power and can strongly control their thoughts, decisions, and actions.

FAQs on Potato, Egg, and Coffee Bean - A Short Story for Kids

1. What is the coffee bean philosophy in the story?

The coffee beans actually change the color of the hot water. Whenever the water gets boiled, it releases the fragrance and flavor.  Therefore, if you are like a coffee bean and things get worse in your life, it is suggested that you get better and change the situation around you.

2. What do the potato, eggs, and coffee beans represent in the story?

The potatoes, eggs, and coffee beans are the three different ways people face adversities. The boiling water represents the troubles and challenges we face in our life. The potato which was once strong and hard became weak and soft in the boiling water.  The egg was fragile and weak before but turned hard after boiling. But the ground coffee beans reacted differently. They transformed and adapted something completely new in the boiling water.

How the Potato Changed the World

Brought to Europe from the New World by Spanish explorers, the lowly potato gave rise to modern industrial agriculture

Charles C. Mann

When potato plants bloom, they send up five-lobed flowers that spangle fields like fat purple stars. By some accounts, Marie Antoinette liked the blossoms so much that she put them in her hair. Her husband, Louis XVI, put one in his buttonhole, inspiring a brief vogue in which the French aristocracy swanned around with potato plants on their clothes. The flowers were part of an attempt to persuade French farmers to plant and French diners to eat this strange new species.

Today the potato is the fifth most important crop worldwide, after wheat, corn, rice and sugar cane. But in the 18th century the tuber was a startling novelty, frightening to some, bewildering to others—part of a global ecological convulsion set off by Christopher Columbus.

About 250 million years ago, the world consisted of a single giant landmass now known as Pangaea. Geological forces broke Pangaea apart, creating the continents and hemispheres familiar today. Over the eons, the separate corners of the earth developed wildly different suites of plants and animals. Columbus’ voyages reknit the seams of Pangaea, to borrow a phrase from Alfred W. Crosby, the historian who first described this process. In what Crosby called the Columbian Exchange, the world’s long-separate ecosystems abruptly collided and mixed in a biological bedlam that underlies much of the history we learn in school. The potato flower in Louis XVI’s buttonhole, a species that had crossed the Atlantic from Peru, was both an emblem of the Columbian Exchange and one of its most important aspects.

Compared with grains, tubers are inherently more productive. If the head of a wheat or rice plant grows too big, the plant will fall over, with fatal results. Growing underground, tubers are not limited by the rest of the plant. In 2008 a Lebanese farmer dug up a potato that weighed nearly 25 pounds. It was bigger than his head.

Many researchers believe that the potato’s arrival in northern Europe spelled an end to famine there. (Corn, another American crop, played a similar but smaller role in southern Europe.) More than that, as the historian William H. McNeill has argued, the potato led to empire: “By feeding rapidly growing populations, [it] permitted a handful of European nations to assert dominion over most of the world between 1750 and 1950.” The potato, in other words, fueled the rise of the West.

Equally important, the European and North American adoption of the potato set the template for modern agriculture—the so-called agro-industrial complex. Not only did the Columbian Exchange carry the potato across the Atlantic, it also brought the world’s first intensive fertilizer: Peruvian guano. And when potatoes fell to the attack of another import, the Colorado potato beetle, panicked farmers turned to the first artificial pesticide: a form of arsenic. Competition to produce ever-more-potent arsenic blends launched the modern pesticide industry. In the 1940s and 1950s, improved crops, high-intensity fertilizers and chemical pesticides created the Green Revolution, the explosion of agricultural productivity that transformed farms from Illinois to Indonesia—and set off a political argument about the food supply that grows more intense by the day.

In 1853 an Alsatian sculptor named Andreas Friederich erected a statue of Sir Francis Drake in Offenburg, in southwest Germany. It portrayed the English explorer staring into the horizon in familiar visionary fashion. His right hand rested on the hilt of his sword. His left gripped a potato plant. “Sir Francis Drake,” the base proclaimed,

disseminator of the potato in Europe in the Year of Our Lord 1586. Millions of people who cultivate the earth bless his immortal memory.

The statue was pulled down by Nazis in early 1939, in the wave of anti-Semitic and anti-foreign measures that followed the violent frenzy known as Kristallnacht. Destroying the statue was a crime against art, not history: Drake almost certainly did not introduce the potato to Europe. And even if he had, most of the credit for the potato surely belongs to the Andean peoples who domesticated it.

Geographically, the Andes are an unlikely birthplace for a major staple crop. The longest mountain range on the planet, it forms an icy barrier on the Pacific Coast of South America 5,500 miles long and in many places more than 22,000 feet high. Active volcanoes scattered along its length are linked by geologic faults, which push against one another and trigger earthquakes, floods and landslides. Even when the land is seismically quiet, the Andean climate is active. Temperatures in the highlands can fluctuate from 75 degrees Fahrenheit to below freezing in a few hours—the air is too thin to hold the heat.

From this unpromising terrain sprang one of the world’s great cultural traditions. Even as Egyptians built the pyramids, Andeans were erecting their own monumental temples and ceremonial plazas. For millennia, contentious peoples jostled for power from Ecuador to northern Chile. Most famous today are the Inca, who seized much of the Andes in a violent flash, built great highways and cities splendid with gold, then fell to Spanish disease and Spanish soldiers. The mountain cultures differed strikingly from one another, but all were nourished by tuber and root crops, the potato most important.

Wild potatoes are laced with solanine and tomatine, toxic compounds believed to defend the plants against attacks from dangerous organisms like fungi, bacteria and human beings. Cooking often breaks down such chemical defenses, but solanine and tomatine are unaffected by heat. In the mountains, guanaco and vicuña (wild relatives of the llama) lick clay before eating poisonous plants. The toxins stick—more technically, “adsorb”—to the fine clay particles in the animals’ stomachs, passing through the digestive system without affecting it. Mimicking this process, mountain peoples apparently learned to dunk wild potatoes in a “gravy” made of clay and water. Eventually they bred less-toxic potatoes, though some of the old, poisonous varieties remain, favored for their resistance to frost. Clay dust is still sold in Peruvian and Bolivian markets to accompany them.

Edible clay by no means exhausted the region’s culinary creativity. To be sure, Andean Indians ate potatoes boiled, baked and mashed, as Europeans do now. But potatoes were also boiled, peeled, chopped and dried to make papas secas ; fermented in stagnant water to create sticky, odoriferous toqosh ; and ground to pulp, soaked in a jug and filtered to produce almidón de papa (potato starch). Most ubiquitous was chuño , which is made by spreading potatoes outside to freeze on cold nights, then thawing them in the morning sun. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles transform the spuds into soft, juicy blobs. Farmers squeeze out the water to produce chuño: stiff, styrofoam-like nodules much smaller and lighter than the original tubers. Cooked into a spicy Andean stew, they resemble gnocchi, the potato-flour dumplings in central Italy. Chuño can be kept for years without refrigeration—insurance against bad harvests. It was the food that sustained Inca armies.

Even today, some Andean villagers celebrate the potato harvest much as their ancestors did in centuries past. Immediately after pulling potatoes from the ground, families in the fields pile soil into earthen, igloo-shaped ovens 18 inches tall. Into the ovens go the stalks, as well as straw, brush, scraps of wood and cow dung. When the ovens turn white with heat, cooks place fresh potatoes on the ashes for baking. Steam curls up from hot food into the clear, cold air. People dip their potatoes in coarse salt and edible clay. Night winds carry the smell of roasting potatoes for what seems like miles.

The potato Andeans roasted before contact with Europeans was not the modern spud; they cultivated different varieties at different altitudes. Most people in a village planted a few basic types, but most everyone also planted others to have a variety of tastes. (Andean farmers today produce modern, Idaho-style breeds for the market, but describe them as bland—for yahoos in cities.) The result was chaotic diversity. Potatoes in one village at one altitude could look wildly unlike those a few miles away in another village at another altitude.

In 1995, a Peruvian-American research team found that families in one mountain valley in central Peru grew an average of 10.6 traditional varieties—landraces, as they are called, each with its own name. In adjacent villages Karl Zimmerer, an environmental scientist now at Pennsylvania State University, visited fields with up to 20 landraces. The International Potato Center in Peru has preserved almost 5,000 varieties. The range of potatoes in a single Andean field, Zimmerer observed, “exceeds the diversity of nine-tenths of the potato crop of the entire United States.” As a result, the Andean potato is less a single identifiable species than a bubbling stew of related genetic entities. Sorting it out has given taxonomists headaches for decades.

The first Spaniards in the region—the band led by Francisco Pizarro, who landed in 1532—noticed Indians eating these strange, round objects and emulated them, often reluctantly. News of the new food spread rapidly. Within three decades, Spanish farmers as far away as the Canary Islands were exporting potatoes to France and the Netherlands (which were then part of the Spanish empire). The first scientific descrip­tion of the potato appeared in 1596, when the Swiss naturalist Gaspard Bauhin awarded it the name Solanum tuberosum esculentum (later simplified to Solanum tuberosum ).

Unlike any previous European crop, potatoes are grown not from seed but from little chunks of tuber—the misnamed “seed potatoes.” Continental farmers regarded this alien food with fascinated suspicion; some believed it an aphrodisiac, others a cause of fever or leprosy. The philosopher-critic Denis Diderot took a middle stance in his Encyclopedia (1751-65), Europe’s first general compendium of Enlightenment thought. “No matter how you prepare it, the root is tasteless and starchy,” he wrote. “It cannot be regarded as an enjoyable food, but it provides abundant, reasonably healthy food for men who want nothing but sustenance.” Diderot viewed the potato as “windy.” (It caused gas.) Still, he gave it the thumbs up. “What is windiness,” he asked, “to the strong bodies of peasants and laborers?”

With such halfhearted endorsements, the potato spread slowly. When Prussia was hit by famine in 1744, King Frederick the Great, a potato enthusiast, had to order the peasantry to eat the tubers. In England, 18th-century farmers denounced S. tuberosum as an advance scout for hated Roman Catholicism. “No Potatoes, No Popery!” was an election slogan in 1765. France was especially slow to adopt the spud. Into the fray stepped Antoine-Augustin Parmentier, the potato’s Johnny Appleseed.

Trained as a pharmacist, Parmentier served in the army during the Seven Years’ War and was captured by the Prussians—five times. During his multiple prison stints he ate little but potatoes, a diet that kept him in good health. His surprise at this outcome led Parmentier to become a pioneering nutritional chemist after the war ended, in 1763; he devoted the rest of his life to promulgating S. tuberosum .

Parmentier’s timing was good. After Louis XVI was crowned in 1775, he lifted price controls on grain. Bread prices shot up, sparking what became known as the Flour War: more than 300 civil disturbances in 82 towns. Parmentier tirelessly proclaimed that France would stop fighting over bread if only her citizens would eat potatoes. Meanwhile, he set up one publicity stunt after another: presenting an all-potato dinner to high-society guests (the story goes that Thomas Jefferson, one of the guests, was so delighted he introduced French fries to America); supposedly persuading the king and queen to wear potato blossoms; and planting 40 acres of potatoes at the edge of Paris, knowing that famished commoners would steal them.

In exalting the potato, Parmentier unwittingly changed it. All of Europe’s potatoes descended from a few tubers sent across the ocean by curious Spaniards. When farmers plant pieces of tuber, rather than seeds, the resultant sprouts are clones. By urging potato cultivation on a massive scale, Parmentier was unknowingly promoting the notion of planting huge areas with clones—a true monoculture.

The effects of this transformation were so striking that any general history of Europe without an entry in its index for S. tuberosum should be ignored. Hunger was a familiar presence in 17th- and 18th-century Europe. Cities were provisioned reasonably well in most years, their granaries carefully monitored, but country people teetered on a precipice. France, the historian Fernand Braudel once calculated, had 40 nationwide famines between 1500 and 1800, more than one per decade. This appalling figure is an underestimate, he wrote, “because it omits the hundreds and hundreds of local famines.” France was not exceptional; England had 17 national and big regional famines between 1523 and 1623. The continent simply could not reliably feed itself.

The potato changed all that. Every year, many farmers left fallow as much as half of their grain land, to rest the soil and fight weeds (which were plowed under in summer). Now smallholders could grow potatoes on the fallow land, controlling weeds by hoeing. Because potatoes were so productive, the effective result, in terms of calories, was to double Europe’s food supply.

“For the first time in the history of western Europe, a definitive solution had been found to the food problem,” the Belgian historian Christian Vandenbroeke concluded in the 1970s. By the end of the 18th century, potatoes had become in much of Europe what they were in the Andes—a staple. Roughly 40 percent of the Irish ate no solid food other than potatoes; the figure was between 10 percent and 30 percent in the Netherlands, Belgium, Prussia and perhaps Poland. Routine famine almost disappeared in potato country, a 2,000-mile band that stretched from Ireland in the west to Russia’s Ural Mountains in the east. At long last, the continent could produce its own dinner.

It was said that the Chincha Islands gave off a stench so intense they were difficult to approach. The Chinchas are a clutch of three dry, granitic islands 13 miles off the southern coast of Peru. Almost nothing grows on them. Their sole distinction is a population of seabirds, especially the Peruvian booby, the Peruvian pelican and the Peruvian cormorant. Attracted by the vast schools of fish along the coast, the birds have nested on the Chincha Islands for millennia. Over time they covered the islands with a layer of guano up to 150 feet thick.

Guano, the dried remains of birds’ semisolid urine, makes excellent fertilizer—a mechanism for giving plants nitrogen, which they need to make chlorophyll, the green molecule that absorbs the sun’s energy for photosynthesis. Although most of the atmosphere consists of nitrogen, the gas is made from two nitrogen atoms bonded so tightly to each other that plants cannot split them apart for use. As a result, plants seek usable nitrogen-containing compounds like ammonia and nitrates from the soil. Alas, soil bacteria constantly digest these substances, so they are always in lesser supply than farmers would like.

In 1840, the organic chemist Justus von Liebig published a pioneering treatise that explained how plants depend on nitrogen. Along the way, he extolled guano as an excellent source of it. Sophisticated farmers, many of them big landowners, raced to buy the stuff. Their yields doubled, even tripled. Fertility in a bag! Prosperity that could be bought in a store!

Guano mania took hold. In 40 years, Peru exported about 13 million tons of it, the great majority dug under ghastly working conditions by slaves from China. Journalists decried the exploitation, but the public’s outrage instead was largely focused on Peru’s guano monopoly. The British Farmer’s Magazine laid out the problem in 1854: “We do not get anything like the quantity we require; we want a great deal more; but at the same time, we want it at a lower price.” If Peru insisted on getting a lot of money for a valuable product, the only solution was invasion. Seize the guano islands! Spurred by public fury, the U.S. Congress passed the Guano Islands Act in 1856, authorizing Americans to seize any guano deposits they discovered. Over the next half-century, U.S. merchants claimed 94 islands, cays, coral heads and atolls.

From today’s perspective, the outrage—threats of legal action, whispers of war, editorials on the Guano Question—is hard to understand. But agriculture was then “the central economic activity of every nation,” as the environmental historian Shawn William Miller has pointed out. “A nation’s fertility, which was set by the soil’s natural bounds, inevitably shaped national economic success.” In just a few years, agriculture in Europe and the United States had become as dependent on high-intensity fertilizer as transportation is today on petroleum—a dependency it has not shaken since.

Guano set the template for modern agriculture. Ever since von Liebig, farmers have treated the land as a medium into which they dump bags of chemical nutrients brought in from far away so they can harvest high volumes for shipment to distant markets. To maximize crop yields, farmers plant ever-larger fields with a single crop—industrial monoculture, as it is called.

Before the potato (and corn), before intensive fertilization, European living standards were roughly equivalent to those in Cameroon and Bangladesh today. On average, European peasants ate less per day than hunting-and-gathering societies in Africa or the Amazon. Industrial monoculture allowed billions of people—in Europe first, and then in much of the rest of the world—to escape poverty. The revolution begun by potatoes, corn and guano has allowed living standards to double or triple worldwide even as human numbers climbed from fewer than one billion in 1700 to some seven billion today.

The name Phytophthora infestans means, more or less, “vexing plant destroyer.” P. infestans is an oomycete, one of 700 or so species sometimes known as water molds. It sends out tiny bags of 6 to 12 spores that are carried on the wind, usually for no more than 20 feet, occasionally for half a mile or more. When the bag lands on a susceptible plant, it breaks open, releasing what are technically known as zoospores. If the day is warm and wet enough, the zoospores germinate, sending threadlike filaments into the leaf. The first obvious symptoms—purple-black or purple-brown spots on the leaves—are visible in about five days. By then it is often too late for the plant to survive.

P. infestans preys on species in the nightshade family, especially potatoes and tomatoes. Scientists believe that it originated in Peru. Large-scale traffic between Peru and northern Europe began with the guano rush. Proof will never be found, but it is widely believed that the guano ships carried P. infestans . Probably taken to Antwerp, P. infestans first broke out in early summer 1845, in the West Flanders town of Kortrijk, six miles from the French border.

The blight hopscotched to Paris by that August. Weeks later, it was destroying potatoes in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and England. Governments panicked. It was reported in Ireland on September 13, 1845. Cormac O Grada, an economist and blight historian at University College, Dublin, has estimated that Irish farmers planted about 2.1 million acres of potatoes that year. In two months P. infestans wiped out the equivalent of one-half to three-quarters of a million acres. The next year was worse, as was the year after that. The attack did not wind down until 1852. A million or more Irish people died—one of the deadliest famines in history, in the percentage of population lost. A similar famine in the United States today would kill almost 40 million people.

Within a decade, two million more had fled Ireland, almost three-quarters of them to the United States. Many more would follow. As late as the 1960s, Ireland’s population was half what it had been in 1840. Today the nation has the melancholy distinction of being the only country in Europe, and perhaps the world, to have fewer people within the same boundaries than it did more than 150 years ago.

Despite its ghastly outcome, P. infestans may be less important in the long run than another imported species: Leptinotarsa decemlineata , the Colorado potato beetle. Its name notwithstanding, this orange-and-black creature is not from Colorado. Nor did it have much interest in potatoes in its original habitat, in south-central Mexico; its diet centered on buffalo bur, a weedy, spiny, knee-high potato relative. Biologists believe that buffalo bur was confined to Mexico until Spaniards, agents of the Columbian Exchange, carried horses and cows to the Americas. Quickly realizing the usefulness of these animals, Indians stole as many as they could, sending them north for their families to ride and eat. Buffalo bur apparently came along, tangled in horse manes, cow tails and native saddlebags. The beetle followed. In the early 1860s it encountered the cultivated potato around the Missouri River and liked what it tasted.

For millennia the potato beetle had made do with the buffalo bur scattered through the Mexican hills. By comparison, an Iowa farm, its fields solid with potatoes, was an ocean of breakfast. Because growers planted just a few varieties of a single species, pests like the beetle and the blight had a narrower range of natural defenses to overcome. If they could adapt to potatoes in one place, they could jump from one identical food pool to the next—a task made easier than ever thanks to inventions like railroads, steamships and refrigeration. Beetles spread in such numbers that by the time they reached the Atlantic Coast, their glittering orange bodies carpeted beaches and made railway tracks so slippery as to be impassable.

Desperate farmers tried everything they could to rid themselves of the invaders. Eventually one man apparently threw some leftover green paint on his infested plants. It worked. The emerald pigment in the paint was Paris green, made largely from arsenic and copper. Developed in the late 18th century, it was common in paints, fabrics and wallpaper. Farmers diluted it with flour and dusted it on their potatoes or mixed it with water and sprayed.

To potato farmers, Paris green was a godsend. To chemists, it was something that could be tinkered with. If arsenic killed potato beetles, why not try it on other pests? If Paris green worked, why not try other chemicals for other agricultural problems? In the mid-1880s a French researcher discovered that spraying a solution of copper sulfate and lime would kill P. infestans . Spraying potatoes with Paris green, then copper sulfate would take care of both the beetle and the blight. The modern pesticide industry had begun.

As early as 1912 beetles began showing signs of immunity to Paris green. Farmers didn’t notice, though, because the pesticide industry kept coming up with new arsenic compounds that kept killing potato beetles. By the 1940s growers on Long Island found they had to use ever-greater quantities of the newest variant, calcium arsenate. After World War II an entirely new type of pesticide came into wide use: DDT. Farmers bought DDT and exulted as insects vanished from their fields. The celebration lasted about seven years. The beetle adapted. Potato growers demanded new chemicals. The industry provided dieldrin. It lasted about three years. By the mid-1980s, a new pesticide in the eastern United States was good for about a single planting.

In what critics call the “toxic treadmill,” potato farmers now treat their crops a dozen or more times a season with an ever-changing cavalcade of deadly substances. Nonetheless, the pests keep coming back. Researchers were dismayed in the 1980s to discover that new types of P. infestans had found their way to Europe and America. They were more virulent—and more resistant to metalaxyl, the chief current anti-blight treatment. No good substitute has yet appeared.

In 2009, potato blight wiped out most of the tomatoes and potatoes on the East Coast of the United States. Driven by an unusually wet summer, it turned gardens into slime. It destroyed the few tomatoes in my New England garden that hadn’t been drowned by rain. Accurately or not, one of my farming neighbors blamed the attack on the Columbian Exchange. More specifically, he said blight had arrived on tomato seedlings sold in big-box stores. “Those tomatoes,” he said direly, “come from China.”

Adapted with permission from 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created , by Charles C. Mann. Copyright © 2011 Charles C. Mann.

Charles C. Mann has written five previous books, including 1491 , plus articles for Science , Wired and other magazines.

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My Potato essay (help)

Here is my essay about a discovery that has importance to you…

A few questions

• Note any writing convention errors
• Do you like the essay and do you think the admission officers will?
• Does the essay work?

<p>I really like this…</p>

<p>there are some grammatical errors like your —> you’re</p>

<p>but this essay is really good</p>

<p>…bump…</p>

<p>What? Are you people potato haters? Input please :)…</p>

<p>I think it’s a good topic, and it’ll work. You need to edit it, though. Some of your sentences could definitely be rephrased to be clearer or more interesting, like the one that starts, “Some examples are”. Yeah, it’s funny that a potato has lots of slang terms, but your essay doesn’t really show that. Also, 2 sentences in a row in the 3rd paragraph say “has also” - it just sounds weird. So yeah, it’s a good essay, but just rephrase some stuff and it’ll be awesome.</p>

<p>Yeah, I tried to think of some more potato slang. Recommendations would be nice :). This essay is going to a prestigious college. Is there anyway I can make it the best of the best of the best? I have to blow them away with this essay, its kinda a do or die for me at this juncture.</p>

<p>I like it also. I think most of us on CC (perhaps adcoms as well) can identify with the part about your sister. uhh, tater? I say potahto? “it influences the relationships of couples throughout america, let’s call the whole thing off!” hot potato, sweet potato.</p>

<p>Awesome! I simply love it! just correct the few grammatical errors and you will be fine!</p>

<p>Whoo… hoo… after scraping 3 previous essays that sucked, I got one that works. From the reviews, people seem to be smiling as well :).</p>

<p>P.S. Ive read many essays in this board (There is one about menstruation, travel logs, life in a farm, personal aspirations, voter apathy. etc). What makes this one work?</p>

<p>I like it a lot. I think it will be good for the adcoms to see something different. I do think that you need to clean up and focus paragraph 4 though. It would also be nice to see you end the essay tying it back to the potato theme.</p>

<p>I liked it too. What college is this for?</p>

<p>Boston university and Boston college… Gee I hope i get in for Jan admissions. I have already graduated from HS and hoping i can get in school in the winter of 2005. I would hate drift too far behind the class of 2004. My backup school screwed me and thousands of other applicants here in Washington.</p>

<p>haha this essay is funny , really nice and cute.</p>

<p>can’t potatoes also power clocks and stuff?</p>

<p>Not to mention the debate between its pronunciation po-tay-toe vs po-ta-toe</p>

<p>or was that for tomatoes…nm</p>

<p>Agreed, nice topic for essay; i would change the part about how it was filmed in Toy Story (which is animation) to 'featured in animated films" like Toy Story</p>

<p>a) lose the first paragraph entirely. See how fresher your essay is when you dive right in (as usual) instead of lecturing the reader on something unrelated to the rest of your essay (Droning voice…"There have been many blah blah blah’s…in the history of blah, blah)</p>

<p>b) many kids are into bugs</p>

<p>c) I doubt this statement–“When people see a computer…” this statement is highly invented, try doing a survey and asking people what they think about when they see a computer. A very weak position to take undermines an effective conclusion.</p>

<p>d) It all started with a doc, but where did it end up? You left us hanging.</p>

<p>e) As many have said here: show, don’t tell. You tell things about yourself in the conclusion that we don’t see. We just have to trust you on that.</p>

<p>1) No 2) Too early to bother with that 3) It’s okay and no 4) See above comments–I don’t find enough intellectual exploration here. Just very light, very surface.</p>

<p>imo, you may have an essay here, but it needs more.</p>

<p>: S I agree with bettina somehow. I don’t…like it much? The topic could work but it needs to be developed a lot somehow. hmm…</p>

<p>other peopel are giving it rave reviews tho, so perhaps I’m just that grumpy adcom who hates kids and potatoes alike or something.</p>

<p>As always, I’m with Bettina on this. I really like the potato theme, but jumps to bugs and computers and interest in learning more about things. Stick with potato, but organize a theme, e.g. interest in history and science.</p>

<p>Jump right in, with 2nd PP. Keep the light tone, but consistent formal style. Personally, I think the hardest part of preparing an essay is to find a theme, and yours is definitely catchy.</p>

<p>Para 2: “the potato caught my attention.” falls flat; sounds boring. Last para: Does not mention potatoes; you need to tie the first part of your essay to the big conclusion that you are observant, like to learn, and like to know how things work. It is an okay essay, but it did not excite me. Of course, I’m the one who liked the math-girl menstruation essay. Good luck.</p>

<p>Aww, bettina didn’t smile :(. I gotta fix that :). Anyway, excellent constructive criticism that I need… Ill fix this puppy up and re-post the edited version…</p>

<p>BTW, is a potato a vegetable?</p>