National Potato Lovers and Sweet Potato Month

Did you know that February is National Sweet Potato Month and National Potato Lovers Month? To commemorate, I thought I'd provide you with some fun tidbits about potatoes and sweet potatoes, as well as recipes to help praise the spud. September is National Potato Month, so I'll be back with more factoids and recipes then.

The Potato Eaters, Vincent Van Gogh, 1885

The potato chip was invented in 1853 in a restaurant in Saratoga Springs, NY (a city not far from Silly Goose Farm!). A patron complained the french fried potatoes were too thick, and sent them back to the chef in complaint. The disgruntled chef then sliced new potatoes as thinly as possible before frying and added salt. Instead of insulting the customer, the "potato chip" ended up being a huge success and changed our snacking habits forever.

The average American eats 132.7 pounds of potatoes (or approximately 365 potatoes) a year.

The potato is the second most consumed food in the United States - trailing only after milk products.

The sweet potato is the 6th principal world food crop, and approximately 90 percent of the worlds' crop is grown in Asia.


Sweet potatoes have been grown in the Americas as early as 750 BC.

George Washington Carver developed 118 different products from sweet potatoes, including a mucilage for postal stamps, sizing for cotton fabrics, and an alternative to corn syrup.

During World War I, when supplies for wheat flour were low, the USDA used sweet potato flour to stretch out the wheat in baked goods.

Stay tuned for yummy recipes!