Debate over the origin of the potato - Peru or Chile?

by Stefani Pollack, Posted May 28th 2008 @ 5:00PM

Woman with potatos It seems the potato / potahto pronunciation debate is no longer the biggest debacle in the potato world. According to USA Today, Chilean Agriculture Minister Marigen Hornkohl stated that 99% of the world's potatoes derive from spuds native to Chile.

The head of Peru's National Institute for Agricultural Innovation, Juan Risi, retorted by calling Chile's potatoes mere "grandchildren" of Peru's tubers. Ouch!

Risa said that, "Peruvian potatoes that originated near lake Titicaca are the true potatoes, and their children spread throughout the Andes." Peru is said to have around 3000 varieties of potatoes. I can't even really fathom that. It would take trying a different type of potato every day for over eight years to try them all.

I'm not sure I care where the potato originated, but I'm glad that it made its way to my mouth!

Filed Under: The History of..., Ingredients
Tags: chile, peru, potato, potatoes, vegetables

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-28-2008 @7:41PM Barry said... Seeing as the tubers pre-dated any nation state they're both technically wrong. But then why does anyone really care about this?
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