4 Fascinating Facts About the Potato That You Might Not Have Known

There might not be another food on the planet that is as popular and simple, yet at the same time, complex as the potato. From the legendary origin of its domestication in the Andean region of South America some 10,000 years ago, to its expansion into Europe in the 16th century, the potato has captured the world's taste buds with how versatile (and delicious) it can be: fried, stewed, boiled, mashed, served as a snack, paired with meat or vegetables and beans, or even prepared as a dessert.

It likely owes its versatility to its nutritional value. And perhaps that's also why this root vegetable is surrounded by so many myths, strange and fun facts, and stories as fascinating as they are hilarious. Such is the case with the painting that the great Vincent Van Gogh dedicated to them in 1885: "The Potato Eaters," which is currently on display in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

This leads us to four characteristics and fun facts about the potato that you might not have known, including how it is even considered to be the food of the future:

1. Fries, a global favorite

When we talk about fries, lots of people think that because they are a frozen product, they're not as good as fresh products. However, the reality is that these products are just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts, as well as cost saving for food businesses, for example, because they're quick to prepare and highly versatile. This is key in the case of delivery services, which have increased since the pandemic. For this particular market segment, some potatoes, such as Conquest® Delivery+®, are cultivated and processed, remaining crisp for more than 40 minutes after cooking. What's more, if you heat them in the microwave for 12 seconds, they'll be as if they were fresh out of the fryer, with all their qualities intact.

2. Important nutrients in the potato

While its most well-known component may be starch, the potato is also a source of important nutrients. They provide vitamin C (containing half the recommended dietary allowance), iron, potassium, and carbohydrates—which is why potatoes are a good source of energy—among others. According to data from the FAO, out of the whole family of root vegetables, the potato has the highest protein content, counting for around 2.1% of its fresh weight, and the protein it contains is of a reasonably good quality, given that its amino acids meet the human body's needs.

3. The popularity of the potato in Mexico

Just like for the rest of the world, where the potato is the fourth most important crop, in Mexico, the potato is very popular. Potato consumption is 14.3 kilograms per person per year and ranks as the fifth highest consumption in the country after corn, beans, wheat and rice. According to the Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development, before the pandemic, national production was more than 1,783,000 metric tons, of which 28% was earmarked for the fried food industry, 15% for production specialized in seeds, and 56% for the fresh food market. This is evidence of its versatility.

4. Is the potato the food of the future?

Under the slogan "Hidden treasure," the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) declared 2008 the year of the potato. This celebration paid homage to the most important and popular staple in the whole world, through scientific conferences, conventions for producers, festivals, food competitions, exhibitions, and school projects. It sought to highlight the virtues of the potato—especially its great nutritional value and ability to increase a country's revenue—and give these the attention that they deserve.

As such, according to the FAO, this "humble tuber" that spread from the Andes across six continents and changed the course of world history was, for the first time, showcased on the geopolitical stage as the "food of the future" due to its nutritional, sustainable and practical importance in responding to the growing demand for food. Learn more about potatoes, practical recipes, and the different varieties at Simplot México.