Elder y Hermana Merrill in South America: Potatoes

The Peruvian Government declared 30 May as the National Day of the Potato.

Photos:

* Photos from a local supermarket in Lima on National Potato Day, 2016.

Potatoes have been consumed for thousands of years in the Andean highlands and became one of the most important food crops in the world after the Spaniards conquered the Americas nearly 500 years ago and brought it back with them to Europe.

National Potato Day is celebrated in Peru with numerous activities and celebrations thoughout the country.

"The potato is currently the fourth most important food crop in the world, with an annual production close to 300 million tonnes. It is without doubt that Peru has bequeathed to the world one of the most important and indispensable foods in the diet of many cultures." (quoted from http://www.cgiar.org/web-archives/www-cgiar-org-enews-july2005-story_06-html/)

The potato crop is crucial in the history, development, culture and cuisine of Peru, especially for Andean people.

You can find more than 3,800 varieties of potatoes in Peru. We have sampled many of them, but certainly not most of them and the tastes, colors, and textures are amazingly varied. The most common ways we see them served everyday is in papas fritas (french fried), pure de papa (runny mashed potatoes), causa rellena (a delicious mashed potato with yellow chili that is beautiful and is filled in the center with avocado, chicken, vegetables, shrimp or numerous other delicious fillings). Potatoes are usually served on the plate with rice.