History of the Potatoe
Assignment #1
Potatoes
BPGM 244
Shawn Doucette
Chris Tipoff
January 28, 2009
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
History of the Potato 2
The Potato Selection 3
Cooking the Potatoes 4
Conclusion 5
Bibliography 6
1. Introduction
Potatoes are considered one of the most popular vegetables in Canada and the United States. The United States grows about 35 billion pounds of potatoes every year, which averages out to about to 126 pounds of potatoes, per American, per year. This seems like a ridiculous amount but with potatoes being high in vitamin C, potassium and fibre, it isn’t that bad. 2. History of the Potato Most of the research I did regarding the history of potatoes suggested that they were planted more than 6,000 years ago by ancestors of the Incas (Peru). Peruvians, the people of Peru, were very proud of their potatoes. Near the end of the 1500s, potatoes were brought to England from South America. In 1621, Captain Nathaniel Butler brought potatoes to America. My research also showed that Irish settlers were the first to cultivate potatoes extensively for North America. Understandably, the more Irish immigrants that moved to America, the more demand for potatoes grew. This led to potatoes becoming a major crop in the United States. As I mentioned in the introduction, the U.S. now grows about 35 billion pounds of potatoes every year.
3. The Potato Selection There are many different varieties of potatoes all over the world. Some are used for specific meals and others are used in an assortment of foods. The following varieties I found in the article “The Important Facts on Potatoes”. (www.putnam.k12.il.us/Potatoes.htm)
-Yukon Golds (great mashed potatoes, buttery and creamy look because of golden color)
-Fingerlings (look like stubby fingers, lots of flavour, great roasted, sautéed, boiled, steamed, grilled, or fried)
-Ruby Crescent Banana
Potatoes
BPGM 244
Shawn Doucette
Chris Tipoff
January 28, 2009
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
History of the Potato 2
The Potato Selection 3
Cooking the Potatoes 4
Conclusion 5
Bibliography 6
1. Introduction
Potatoes are considered one of the most popular vegetables in Canada and the United States. The United States grows about 35 billion pounds of potatoes every year, which averages out to about to 126 pounds of potatoes, per American, per year. This seems like a ridiculous amount but with potatoes being high in vitamin C, potassium and fibre, it isn’t that bad. 2. History of the Potato Most of the research I did regarding the history of potatoes suggested that they were planted more than 6,000 years ago by ancestors of the Incas (Peru). Peruvians, the people of Peru, were very proud of their potatoes. Near the end of the 1500s, potatoes were brought to England from South America. In 1621, Captain Nathaniel Butler brought potatoes to America. My research also showed that Irish settlers were the first to cultivate potatoes extensively for North America. Understandably, the more Irish immigrants that moved to America, the more demand for potatoes grew. This led to potatoes becoming a major crop in the United States. As I mentioned in the introduction, the U.S. now grows about 35 billion pounds of potatoes every year.
3. The Potato Selection There are many different varieties of potatoes all over the world. Some are used for specific meals and others are used in an assortment of foods. The following varieties I found in the article “The Important Facts on Potatoes”. (www.putnam.k12.il.us/Potatoes.htm)
-Yukon Golds (great mashed potatoes, buttery and creamy look because of golden color)
-Fingerlings (look like stubby fingers, lots of flavour, great roasted, sautéed, boiled, steamed, grilled, or fried)
-Ruby Crescent Banana
Bibliography: Ehler, James. "Potatoes." Food Reference Guide. 27 Jan. 2009 <www.foodreference.com/html/fpotatoes.html >. " Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes - Allrecipes ." All recipes - complete resource for recipes and cooking tips . 28 Jan. 2009 <http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Au-Gratin-Potatoes/Detail.aspx>. "One Potato, Two Potatoes, Red Potatoes, Blue Potatoes!.". 28 Jan. 2009 <http://www.deliciousorganics.com/recipes/potatoes.htm>.