It was the birth of the modern pesticide industry, which in turn led to the creation of the environmental movement. The growth of the pesticide industry led to the potato becoming one of the most important agricultural products across vast swathes of the world.
Why did potatoes become so popular?
Alcohol and famine contributed to the potato's popularity. For 250 years this root vegetable has saved Norwegians from hunger and scurvy. Not even modern diet fads, such as various low-carb diets, can wean the average Norwegian off the humble spud.
Why was the potato so important?
More than that, as the historian William H. McNeill has argued, the potato led to empire: “By feeding rapidly growing populations, [it] permitted a handful of European nations to assert dominion over most of the world between 1750 and 1950.” The potato, in other words, fueled the rise of the West.
Why did potatoes become popular in Europe?
Originating from the highlands of the Andes, South America, potatoes were introduced to Europe in the sixteenth century. They were initially popular in Spain because they provided cheap sustenance for the poor.
When did potatoes become popular in America?
1719 – Potatoes had been introduced to the United States several times throughout the 1600s. They were not widely grown for almost a century until 1719, when they were planted in Londonderry, New Hampshire, by Scotch-Irish immigrants, and from there spread across the nation.
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When did people start eating potatoes in England?When did potatoes become popular in America?
