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10 Facts about the Humble Potato

10 Facts about the Humble Potato

By Y.M. Lowy

During Pesach, potatoes seem to make their way into nearly any dish, from kugels to simple sides and endless potato chip snack bags. But there's more to this humble vegetable than meets the eye. It's time to learn just how fascinating this staple really is!

  1. There are over 4,000 varieties of potatoes, ranging in color from white to purple and everything in between.
  2. One medium-sized potato provides about 45% of your daily vitamin C needs.
  3. Potatoes were the first vegetable to be grown in space in 1995 as part of an experiment to study plant growth in zero gravity.
  4. Potatoes float in water because they are made up of about 80% water.
  5. Potatoes are the fourth largest food crop in the world, after rice, wheat, and corn.
  6. Potatoes can grow from the “eyes” or buds on them, and a single potato can sprout multiple new plants.
  7. The world’s largest potato weighed in at 18 pounds and was grown in the UK in 2011, breaking records.
  8. The potato was once considered inedible and even thought to be poisonous in Europe, where it was first introduced in the 1500s.
  9. Potatoes were used in early skin treatments, and potato slices are still used today as a natural remedy to reduce swelling and soothe skin irritation, thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties.
  10. The Irish Potato Famine in the 1800s was caused by a potato disease that destroyed crops across Ireland, leading to widespread hunger and the deaths of over a million people.


Photo: Shutterstock


Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, BPJCC Sponsor FREE Family Pesach Extravaganza In Boro Park
  • Apr 9 2025
  • |
  • 1:02 PM

Congestion Toll Extended Until October
  • Apr 9 2025
  • |
  • 12:11 PM

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