Potatoes have existed since ancient times and have supported human survival for thousands of years. The origin of potato is South America, and it has become an indispensable part of the diet and cooking culture of all countries in the world. Potato is the fourth most important food crop in the world, second only to wheat, rice and corn, and is widely planted in about 125 countries around the world.
About 200 BC, the Indians of the ancient Inca country in Peru first began to grow potatoes. The Incas also used potatoes to measure time, and the time needed to cook potatoes was used as the unit time. The Andes region of South America is the birthplace of "Irish" white potato.
At first, in 1570, the short sunshine type was introduced from Colombia in South America to Spain in Europe, and after artificial selection, it became a long sunshine type. Later, it spread to Asia, North America, South Africa and Australia. Potato has high yield, rich nutrition and strong adaptability to the environment, and now it has spread all over the world. Tropical and subtropical countries can cultivate and obtain high yield even in winter or cool season. The main potato producers in the world are the former Soviet Union, Poland, China and the United States. The main potato producing areas in China are southwest mountainous areas, northwest, Inner Mongolia and northeast China. Among them, the southwest mountainous area has the largest planting area, accounting for about1/3 of the total area of the country. Heilongjiang Province is the largest potato planting base in China.
Spanish colonists 1537 first "discovered" potatoes in villages in the Andes and brought them back to Europe, but potatoes were not recognized in Europe soon. Later, with the help of leaders and thinkers in Prussia, France and England, potatoes were quickly widely used throughout Europe.
Potatoes were introduced to North America in 162 1, when the governor of Bermuda gave the governor of Virginia two large boxes containing potatoes and other vegetables.
It was not until Benjamin Franklin, an American diplomat, discovered potatoes in France that potatoes became popular in the United States. When Benjamin Franklin was an American ambassador in France, he attended a banquet at which he appreciated twenty different ways of making potatoes. After Franklin returned to America, he praised potatoes as the best vegetables. Since then, Americans have followed the trend led by Franklin, and potatoes have also been planted in colonies and remote western regions.