Existing comment:
Tradeoffs:
Potato famine:
It took over 100 years to adapt potatoes to the climate of northern Europe, but eventually, potatoes thrived there. One variety, known as the Lumper, became the primary food of Ireland. This dependence on a single variety proved disastrous. In the 1840s, a fungus struck the potato crop, triggering a famine in which crop failure and continued exports of other foods resulted in the deaths of one in eight Irish people in three years. Fortunately, the genetic diversity conserved in the Andes let Ireland adopt more fungus-resistant breeds.
Potato blight: Ireland's tragic potato famine was caused by the potato blight Phytophtora infestans, which also attacks tomatoes.
Born to be Fried:
In the US, a potato variety called the Russet Burbank remains the primary potato for French fries. It has an ideal size, shape, texture and sugar content for frying -- and it grows well in places like Idaho and Washington.
China: Number one nation:
Potatoes are now grown in over 100 countries and have been adapted to grow in locations ranging from sea level to mountainsides. The world's largest producer and consumer of potatoes is now China. |