Every May 30 Peru celebrates Potato Day; a special date on the calendar that seeks to highlight the importance of this tuber native to our country that has become a key product in national and international gastronomy.
In Peru there are more than 3,500 varieties of native Peruvian potatoes and it has positioned itself as the first producer of this product in Latin America. Worldwide, Peru ranks number 11. But do you know why Potato Day is celebrated ? Keep reading and find out.
How did Potato Day arise in Peru?
Potato Day was born thanks to a supreme resolution of February 23, 2005. With the establishment of this date he wants to value the wealth in terms of biodiversity, promote its greater consumption and celebrate the potato as an expression of the ancient Andean culture.
The potato is much more than a tuber; This food provides great nutritional value to our body, it is easy to prepare and also very versatile, since it allows the preparation of countless dishes.
However, despite these properties and characteristics, we seek to rescue its presence in our daily diet, since potato consumption has unfortunately decreased significantly in recent years.
Today, the potato is the fourth staple food in the world after rice, wheat and corn. The main regions of Peru in potato production are Puno, Huánuco, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Cajamarca and Cusco.