Peruvian food to the World
Channel: E-Commerce Management
Date: 2015-05-08

The debate concerning the origin of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) is nearing its end. Using genetic analyses of wild species and native Andean crops, as well as thorough morphological and molecular studies, scientist have reached the conclusion that the potato has a single point of origin: to the north of Lake Titicaca, in the Andean plateau of southern Peru.

Archaeologists have even determined that the ancient Peruvians consumed potatoes as far back as 7,000 years ago, when they were found growing wild. The potato was grown across Peru by around the 8th century BC already and was taken to Spain in 1554 from where it spread throughout Europe. It reached India in 1610 and China in 1700.
Today, Peru grows eight native potato species and 2,300 of the nearly 5,000 current potato varieties. It is also home to 90 of the 200 wild species growing on the American continent, making it the country with the greatest potato diversity in the world.