08/19/2026
🥔🥔 It is National Potato Day! 🥔🥔
In honor of this beloved starchy vegetable, let’s learn more.
🍽️ Potatoes are the most consumed vegetable (by far) in the U.S. The average American eats 110 pounds of them every year!
⛰️ Potato cultivation began in the Andes roughly 8,000 years ago.
There are more than 4,000 varieties of potatoes. 🍠
3,000 of them grow in the U.S. 🥔 Just over 100 varieties are sold commercially.
🍠 The most common categories are red, russet, white, yellow, purple, fingerling, and petite.
There is some variation with types of potato, but all potatoes have incredibly low carbon footprints. 👣
🚰 They also use very little water. For example, sweet potatoes require 12 gallons of water per 4 ounces of food, much less than the average food, especially animal products.
Potatoes are not very picky about soil conditions and are easier to grow at home or in imperfect soil than many crops. 🪨
Some potatoes are known for their health benefits. ⚕️ Others have a reputation as “unhealthy carbs.” However, all types of potatoes in their whole form are packed with nutritional benefits.
🫀 Potatoes are fat- and cholesterol-free and calorically dense. They contain resistant starch, vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and more. Eating them with their skin provides the biggest nutrient punch.
The more colorful the potato, the better, but any whole potatoes are an economical and healthful option. 🥔
However, the same does not apply to ultra-processed potatoes, such as potato chips or fast-food fries. 🍟
🍠 For the most environmentally friendly and nutrient-dense fuel, stick to whole potatoes.
What type of potato will you enjoy today?
Sources: USDA, Farmers Almanac, FAO, Our World in Data, AICR, Mayo Clinic
