Potato

Can you keep a secret? I’ve been hiding, just under your feet, cozy and warm in the dark soil. I’m not perfectly round or perfectly smooth. I am a bit lumpy and bumpy, and I wear a thin skin that can be brown, red, or even a lovely shade of purple. You probably don’t see me when I’m growing, but you see me a lot on your dinner plate. Sometimes I’m fluffy and mashed with butter. Other times, I’m sliced thin and fried until I’m crispy and golden. You might even eat me baked and warm with a sprinkle of salt. Have you guessed my secret yet? It’s me. I am the Potato.

My story started a very, very long time ago, way back around 8,000 BCE. I was first discovered high up in the Andes Mountains of South America. The Inca people found me and realized I was a wonderful food that helped keep their families strong and full. For thousands of years, I was their special treasure. Then, my great adventure began. In the 1500s, some Spanish explorers sailed their big ships all the way to my home. Around the year 1536, they found me and decided to take me back with them on a long journey across the giant ocean to a new place called Europe. But when I got there, the people were scared of me. They thought I looked strange and lumpy, and they were suspicious because I grew underground instead of on a pretty vine. For a long time, they didn't eat me; they just gave me to the farm animals for dinner.

I felt a little sad, but I knew I was special. I just had to wait for someone to see it. Finally, a kind man in France named Antoine-Augustin Parmentier discovered my secret in the late 1700s. He knew people were hungry, and he showed them that I wasn't scary at all—I was delicious. He even hosted big parties where he served me in all sorts of yummy ways. After that, everyone wanted to eat me. I became a superstar. I traveled all over the world, from Ireland to India, and became a hero for feeding so many families. Today, you know me as french fries, potato chips, and so much more. I love giving you the energy to run, play, and learn. So next time you see me, remember that sometimes the greatest treasures can be found in the simplest of places, even hiding right under the ground.