The History of the Potato

Potatoes in South America

The first archaeologial evidence of potato cultivation is from approximately 4500 years ago with the natives of Peru. Wild tubers have been found in the Peruvian plateau and mountainous regions, where it is too cold for wheat or corn. They were a great source for starch and carbohydrates, and could be stored and transported easily.

The people of Peru developed several techniques to improve the production and storage of potatoes. To preserve potatoes for long-term storage, they developed a technique to freeze-dry the tubers. Potatoes were left on the ground to freeze during the cold nights. In the morning, they were trampled to remove the trapped moisture. This process was repeated over a period of 4-5 days until all of the moisture was removed from the crushed potatoes. The remaining white potato flour, called chuño, was lightweight and storable for up to four years. Today, it is mixed with water for food or used as flour for baking bread.

The potato played an important part in the lives of the South American natives both as an everyday food and as a cultural influence. The Quechua language records more than one thousand words to describe potatoes and potato varieties. Particularly in highly elevated regions where maize and wheat would not grow, the potato became the primary food.

Ancient artifacts show that the people of the Andean highlands used potatoes as a theme in their art. Pottery pieces were made to resemble potatoes and sometimes showed potatoes with human characteristics. The potato was also believed to have medicinal qualities and was rubbed on the skin of sick patients as a remedy.

The importance of the potato in the lives of Andean natives is evident in the religious ceremonies created surrounding the tuber. The Inca people worshiped potato gods and celebrated rituals to ensure the success of their potato crops. Rituals and sacrifices were offered to appease the gods especially in times of need.

"Potatoe, Meet Europe..."

The Spanish explorers of the 1500's were the first Europeans to come in contact with potatoes. They had ventured to South America, nearly 500 years ago, in search of gold, treasure, and new land. Along with the gold loot taken from South American natives, the Spanish conquistadors carried potatoes back to their homeland aboard their ships. The Spaniards also saw the potato as a valuable source of food for the Inca slaves, forced to work in Spanish silver mines in Bolivia. Potatoes became a common food for Spanish sailors during their arduous crossings of the Atlantic.

The first written record of a European encounter with potatoes was penned in 1537 by Castellanos, a Spanish conquistador. After raiding a village in South America, Castellanos and his party found the area deserted and entered the houses in search of loot. Instead of gold and silver, they found maize, beans, and truffles. From reading Castellanos' account we now know these truffles were in fact potatoes.

Whoops!

Originally it was believed that the potato was native to Virginia. John Gerard, a herbalist and gardener, published one of the first written accounts of potatoes in his book Herbal in 1597. In his book, Gerard claimed that the potato was native to Virginia, a fact that would remain unchallenged for 300 years.

Gerard's mistake stemmed from Sir Francis Drake's remarkable circumnavigation of the globe from 1577-1580. On his voyage, Drake encountered potatoes while collecting supplies on an island off the coast of Chile. Later he took on board a group of starving Virginians and later it was assumed that the potatoes were associated with these Virginian passengers.

 

The Potato Makes its Debut in Europe

Spain

After its original introduction into Spain by returning conquistadors, the potato spread slowly across Europe. At first the plant was treated with distrust and fear, or grown only as a novelty. Fear of the potato lasted for centuries, as some people believed that it was unholy or unchristian, dirty, primitive, or unhealthy. However, others began to recognize the potato as a medicinal plant and its popularity soared when it was heralded as a powerful aphrodisiac. Herbalists claimed that the potato could cure ills ranging from diarrhea to tuberculosis. The Spanish were the first Europeans to appreciate the potato as a delicacy.

Germany & Prussia

Slowly, the potato was accepted across Europe as monarchs and influential people recognized its value. In the 1740's, Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, and King William of Germany began campaigns to introduce potatoes to their empires. King William distributed potatoes throughout Germany with instructions describing how to properly cultivate them. Through these monarchs' support, the potato became a valuable staple crop in eastern Europe.

France

The French were originally suspicious of potatoes. Potatoes eventually gained acceptance in the 18th century through the work of Antoine August Parmentier. Parmentier, a pharmacist, was imprisoned during the Seven Years War (1756-1763) in a German jail. Parmentier gave credit to the potatoes fed to him in jail for his survival. When he was released, Parmentier worked to promote the vegetable in his homeland. He managed to convince King Louis XVI of France to support the potato and thereby began the popular spread of potatoes in France. He also invited esteemed gentlemen, such as Benjamin Franklin, to his home to sample potato dishes in an attempt to quell the fears of his fellow Frenchmen. Parmentier was one of the most effective promoters of the potato in Europe.

England

In England, after its early introduction by John Hawkins in 1563, the potato took a long time to take hold. After a reintroduction by Drake, its popularity increased, but would not flourish for many years.

Ireland!

The potato has played an important role in Irish history but it was not until 1663 that the potato was established as a field crop. In Ireland, the potato found a perfect growing climate and the Irish people quickly embraced the crop as the common daily food. The potato so popular that it was soon established as a national food and the name "Irish Potatoes" was given to them to distinguish them from sweet potatoes.

Many countries in Europe paid very little attention to the arrival of the potato from the New World. This is because most countries already grew enough food to feed their population, and so there was no reason to grow a new vegetable in large numbers. However, the situation was different in Ireland.

During the 1500's Ireland was torn apart by constant warfare between the country’s English rulers and Irish inhabitants, and between local nobles who were always fighting one another. As a result of this continual conflict, Ireland's peasant farmers had a hard time growing enough food to feed themselves, let alone anyone else. It was into this starving, war-torn Ireland that the potato was introduced around the year 1600.

The Potato Catches On

No one is sure exactly who introduced the potato to Ireland. Some believe it was the famous English explorer, sea captain and poet, Walter Raleigh. Others speculate that the potato washed up on the beaches of Ireland as part of the shipwreck of the Spanish Armada, which had sunk off the Irish coast in a violent storm.

However it arrived, one thing can be said for certain - the potato caught on very quickly in Ireland. The potato's popularity was based on the potato producing more food per acre than any other crops Irish farmers had grown before. In peaceful times the potato spread throughout Ireland as a healthy and reliable source of food. In times of war it was popular as well. When soldiers destroyed farmers' crops and livestock - as soldiers often did -, the potato would survive because it was hidden, buried below ground. When the soldiers left, people could still dig up potatoes and eat them.

 

Dependent on the Potato

Ireland was the first country in Europe where the potato became a major food source. By the 1800's, the potato was so important in Ireland that some of the poorer parts of the country relied entirely on the potato for food. Because the potato was so abundant and could feed so many people, it allowed the population of Ireland to grow very quickly. By 1840, the country’s population had swelled--from less than three million in the early 1500's to a staggering eight million people--largely thanks to the potato. Some men and women tried to warn everyone that it was dangerous for so many people in one place to be dependent on just one crop. Unfortunately, no one listened to their warnings.

The Famine Strikes

The blight appeared in Ireland in 1845. The blight was the fungus Phytophthora infestans which destroyed potato plants and was the principal cause of what came to be known as the Irish Potato Famine. The blight wiped out the potato crop in 1845, 1846 and again in 1848. People were left with nothing to eat and no way to make money to support themselves. Many wandered the countryside, begging for food or work. Others ate grass and weeds to survive. Those who could afford to, left the country in search of a better life.

Over the course of the famine almost one million people died from starvation or disease. Another one million left Ireland, mostly for Canada and America. Of those who left, many died on board the boats they were travelling in because the conditions were so crowded and dirty. For this reason, the ships that carried Irish immigrants to the New World became known as "coffin ships". Unfortunately immigrants to the New World soon found out that the blight was ravaging potato crops there as well.

The Potato Debuts in North America

After being introduced to Europe from South America, the potato continued its journey, carried by European settlers to North American colonies.

In 1613, the British sent potatoes as supplies to colonists in Bermuda. Nine years later, the Governor of Bermuda sent a shipment of potatoes to his counterpart in Virginia and potatoes completed their round-trip journey from the New World (South America) to the Old World (Europe) and back (North America).

 

Spread Through the Colonies

With a huge influx of Scots-Irish settlers to Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1719, the popularity of the potato soared in the colonies. The Irish had already established the potato as a staple crop in their homeland and found that it grew well in their new settlements. The success of these early potato crops prompted other colonists to cultivate potatoes. The spread of potatoes through the American colonies was swift.

By 1720, the tide of potatoes had reached Connecticut. Fifteen years later potatoes were introduced to Rhode Island and by 1745 had become so popular in the colony that they were able to export potatoes for profit.

America's Appreciation for the Spud: Finally!

Even with its quick spread, Americans didn't appreciate potatoes as a delicacy as the Spanish had done. However, with Thomas Jefferson's support in 1789, the potato was better accepted. As the American Minister to France, Jefferson had gained an appreciation for French cooking and, in particular, their potato dishes. Jefferson can be given credit for introducing pomme-frites--the French word for french fries--to American cuisine. Later, as President, he had potatoes served in various forms at White House dinners. Through this support, the potato gained popularity in North America as a fine food and a popular crop.

Irish immigrants to places all around the globe spread the acceptance of the potato worldwide. Yay for the Irish!

Canada

There is evidence of Canadian potato cultivation as early as 1623, in Port Royal, Nova Scotia. However, it was not considered a major crop until much later. It is assumed that potatoes were reintroduced in the 18th century when the British gained control of the French North American colonies.

In the 1760's Colonel Charles Lawrence, Governor of Nova Scotia, ordered that potatoes should be provided for settlers in Lunenburg. There is little evidence of the Acadians growing potatoes in the Maritime provinces, but after the "Expulsion" in 1755, Governor Lawrence indicated that potatoes should be grown on the land taken from the Acadians in Nova Scotia.