News on History of the potato from the United States

September 04, 2020

As Idaho's potato harvest gets underway, a look back at how it got started

Farmers all across Idaho will be in their fields from now through most of October collecting the state's signature crop.

January 24, 2020

Side Delights Launches The 'Journey of a Potato' Educational Video at SEPC Southern Exposure 2020

Side Delights® announced it will launch the 'Journey of a Potato' video in Tampa February 27-29, during Southern Exposure 2020: Produce on Parade!. Under the 'Grown Where it Matters' campaign, this video is an educational piece for both consumers ...

Analyzing the genes of ancient potatoes helps to improve future varieties

November 01, 2017

Analyzing the genes of ancient potatoes helps to improve future potato varieties

Examining the ancestors of the modern, North American cultivated potato has revealed a set of common genes and important genetic pathways that have helped potatoes adapt over thousands of years.

Potato starch residue in stone tool proves potato use in Utah goes back over 10,000 years

July 04, 2017

Starch residue in ancient tool proves potato use in Utah goes back 10,000+ years

Researchers from the Natural History Museum of Utah and Red Butte Garden at the University of Utah have discovered potato starch residues in the crevices of a 10,900-year-old stone tool in Escalante, Utah — the earliest evidence of wild potato use in North America.

November 15, 2016

Rastrean la evolución del cultivo de la patata en los Andes precolombinos

Un grupo de investigadores han descubierto a través de restos de almidones las pruebas botánicas que muestran cómo fue la evolución del cultivo de la patata en los Andes en la época precolombina, según un estudio publicado en el número de esta semana de la revista PNAS.

February 15, 2012

The amazing tale of Idaho's J.R. Simplot

As with any megafortune, John Richard (J.R.) Simplot's wealth was built from a few simple but revolutionary ideas, much sweat, and a generous glossing of luck. The details of his experience, however, are singular in the extreme.

Potatoes International Potato Center Peru

October 24, 2011

How the potato changed the world

When potato plants bloom, they send up five-lobed flowers that spangle fields like fat purple stars. By some accounts, Marie Antoinette liked the blossoms so much that she put them in her hair.

October 19, 2010

The History of the potato Industry in Nebraska

The Nebraska Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) began tracking the potato industry in 1866, a year before statehood. Then, acreage was 5,000;yield was 36 cwt/a (cwt = hundredweight = 100 lb), and the crop value was $500,000.

The genetically modified starch potato Amflora

March 10, 2010

The History and Future of GM Potatoes

Last week the European Commission approved cultivation and processing of the genetically modified starch potato Amflora. The request for authorisation was submitted by Amflora's developer BASF in August 1996, more than 13 years ago!

In North America, currently no genetically modified potatoes are commercially grown. But the GM potato has already a colorful history in the US and Canada