Frost-Resistant Potatoes and More by Ruth Paget
John Reader begins his history of the potato by writing that the potato is an “all-around bundle of nutrition” that is eaten on space missions in Potato: A History of the Propitious Esculent (Yale University Press).
The nutrients Reader refers to include:
-carbohydrates for energy
-protein for tissue building
-for 100 grams of potato, there is half the minimum daily amount of Vitamin C – Vitamin C is an antioxidant and prevents scurvy, a concern for all navies
-B complex vitamins, which fight anxiety and depression
-calcium which builds strong bones and teeth
-iron which makes hemoglobin in red blood cells that helps carry oxygen to the lungs
-phosphorous which also aids in the formation of bones and teeth
-potassium which helps nerves, muscles, and the heart function well. Potatoes contain 18% more potassium than bananas according to Reader
(Nutrition information compiled from John Reader, Medlineplus.com, Harvard Medical School, and the Washington State Potato Commission)
The potato's ancestral homeland is found in the Andes Mountains in Latin America, specifically in Peru and Bolivia. One Peruvian variety of potato can grow above 4,000 feet and is the only frost-resistant potato. This frost-resistant potato is named the papa naki and might grow well in colder regions of the United States.
For information on the history and merits of the potato, the book Potato: A History of the Propitious Esculent by John Reader is a great buy.
By Ruth Paget, Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
