Spuds Trivia

Here is a collection of spud trivia and fun potato facts:

• Thomas Jefferson first introduced French Fries to the White House during his presidency.

• Potato Chips were invented by Chef George Crum in Saratoga Springs, NY on August 24, 1853.

• Americans consume 30 pounds of potatoes per person per year.

• About 1/4 of the potatoes consumed are French Fries

• Most people eat some form of potato every day.

• Potatoes were first cultivated nearly 5,000-7,000 years ago in Peru. ….contributed by Inez.

• Potatoes were not part of the first Thanksgiving. Irish immigrants had not yet brought them to North America.

• When Sir Walter Raleigh first brought potatoes to the court of Queen Elizabeth I, there seems to have been a lack of communication. The cooks tossed out the tubers and boiled the stems and leaves. Everyone who partook became deathly ill and potatoes were banned from the Royal kitchen for a long time! Contributed by a fellow-Gardener-UK

• Got a Headache? An old-fashioned remedy was to place sliced, raw potatoes on your forehead.

• Most of the nutrients are in the skin of the potato.

• Potatoes have more potassium than a banana.

• The largest potato ever grown was 18 lb. 3oz.

•  Over 45 million pounds of potatoes are produced in the U.S. each year.

Please contribute a potato fun fact or tidbit Contribute a Potato Fun Fact or Trivia