Reser's 2025 Corporate Sustainability Report - Flipbook - Page 29
Fun Facts
about Potatoes
aka Spuds, Taters, Tubers, Papas….
•
Potatoes were first cultivated more than 8,000 years ago in the
Andes Mountains of present-day Peru and Bolivia, where the Inca
developed thousands of varieties adapted to different climates
and elevations.
•
More than 1,000 potato varieties grow in North America today,
though only a few hundred are produced commercially.
•
Developing a brand-new potato variety can take up to 13 years.
•
Although potatoes grow underground, they are technically stems
(aka tubers), not roots.
•
Potatoes hold a special place in history as the first vegetable
grown in space.
•
Potato salad was introduced to the United States by German
immigrants in the 19th century.
•
Americans purchase an estimated 14.5 million pounds of potato
salad during the week of the Fourth of July.
•
Potatoes are nutrient-dense, providing an excellent source of
vitamin C and more potassium than a banana.
29
