The potato, one of the most important food crops, came under cultivation by South American "Indians" more than 2.000 years ago. Potatoes, of which there are hundreds of varieties in every shape, size, and color, were carried to Europe around 1500. From Europe they were introduced into the British Colonies in North America.

In 1992, the potato is one of several food crops featured in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History's exhibition "Seeds of Change," commemorating the 500th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage. For many years, the potato had its own Potato Museum, in Washington, D.C.

Interest is increasing in the yellow-fleshed and other uncommon varieties-specialty potatoes. Yellow-fleshed potatoes are the rule rather than the exception in most countries. Some specialty potatoes available in the United States for many years were long considered of little commercial value. Now, however, with increased consumer demand, domestic potato breeders have begun to release some excellent yellow-fleshed varieties.

Potato Links

• Commercial Potato Production Guide - Manitoba Agriculture and Food, Canada
• Commercial Post-Harvest Handling of Potatoes - University of Minnesota
• Commercial Vegetable Production in Wisconsin (PDF: 1.47 MB / 180 pages) - University of Wisconsin
• Growing Irrigated Potatoes - North Dakota State University
• Irish Potatoes (PDF: 42 KB / 4 pages) - Kansas State University
• Nutrient Management for Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Crops in Minnesota - University of Minnesota
• Organic potatoes: they can be grown, but can they be profitable? - CIAS, University of Wisconsin
• Potatoes - Ohio State University
• Potatoes - Cornell University, NY
• Potato Information Exchange - Oregon State University
• Potato Insects and Diseases - University of Minnesota
• Potato Production (PDF: 430 KB / 4 pages) - Oklahoma State University
• Potato Production (PDF: 228 KB / 8 pages) - Penn State University
• Potato Production in Florida - University of Florida
• Specialty Potatoes - University of California

Associations and Other Resources

• Minnesota Certified Seed Potato Growers Association
• Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
  c/o Marilyn Nysetvold Johnson, Executive Coordinator
  15125 West Vermillion Circle NE
  Ham Lake, MN 55304
  Ph: 763-434-0400
  Fax: 763-413-9585
• National Potato Council
• Red River Valley Potato Grower's Association
• Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association
• The Potato Association of America

MDA Contact

Meg Moynihan
Minnesota Farm Opportunities
651-201-6616
Ag Marketing & Development Division