Potato: Treasure of the Andes

Potatoes originated in the Andes, particularly in Peru where the most genetic diversity is concentrated. They have become the world’s most widely grown tuber crop, and the fourth largest food crop in terms of fresh produce. Their versatility and easy preparation make them an important ingredient for gourmet dishes. Potatoes are known for their high carbohydrate and protein content; they also contain a number of important vitamins and minerals.

The importance of potatoes as food staple in Inca times was shown in special ceremonies and festivities. Nowadays, Peruvians celebrate the benefits of this produce in the National Day of Potatoes, every year in May.

Potatoes may have provided the Incas with the energy needed for the expansion of their empire on a scale never before attempted in aboriginal America. Began by Pachacuti, the first Inca emperor, and then followed by his son Tupa Inca, they forge an empire nearly as far reaching and well organized as Caesar’s Rome; and they conquered on foot (Loren Mc Intyre*). According to Loren Mc Intyre*, “Tupa Inca who took the title Yupanqui, meaning unforgettable, is forgotten today in comparison to Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and other conquerors who overran vast territories –and they rode horses.” 

Future discoveries beyond our planet may benefit with potatoes as a food staple for astronauts on long-term voyages through the universe; in 1995, they become the first vegetable grown in space.

* “Lost Empire of the Incas” National Geographic, Vol. 144, No. 6 (December 1973) http://www.history-magazine.com/potato.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato http://www.rpp.com.pe/2009-06-16-primer-gran-festival-de-la-papa-ecologica-noticia_188531.html