Potatoes Travelled to Europe by Way of Spanish Conquistadors In 1532 conquistadors from Spain came sailing onto the scene searching for vast riches to bring back to Europe. South American origins. Scientists have long known that it was a strain of Phytophthora infestans (or P. infestans) that caused the widespread devastation of potato crops in Ireland and northern Europe … It was also at least a hundred years after its arrival before the potato came to be accepted in any way as a food in the Mediterranean. So that’s probably enough history on cheese and potatoes now- let’s get down … The potato is grown by planting a piece of itself. HOW DID THE POTATO GET TO EUROPE? He planted a field of potatoes in Sablon, hired a day guard, and spread a false report that he was growing something extremely valuable. When the European diet expanded to include potatoes, farmers were able to produce more nutritious food on smaller plots of land, which helped European birth rates and population to increase. Francisco Pizarro was the first Spaniard to see the potato in its original environment (Mann, 2011). The potatoes originally introduced to Europe were quite knobby and unlike the smooth ovals we see today that is a result of cultivators working towards that end. The potato gained a heightened intrinsic value overnight, and very quickly attracted widespread acceptance – today being one of the major foods in Europe and the rest of the world. Potatoes were soon a standard supply item on their ships. When the Spanish Conquistadors didn't find the gold and silver they were looking for in the late 1400s and early 1500s, they quickly cornered the local potato market. In 1536 Spanish Conquistadors conquered Peru, discovered the flavors of the potato, and carried them to Europe. The potato first made its appearance in Europe about 1570, having been brought from South America by the Spaniards. When the potato was taken to Spain, only one variety was taken (Mann, 2011). The Inca Indians in Peru were the first to cultivate potatoes around 8,000 BC to 5,000 B.C. Within this species, however, more than 600 different varieties are known in Europe. We've been in … Potatoes originally came from the Andes in South America (Mann, 2011). So who did bring the potato to Ireland and when? 28 July 1586: Britain is introduced to the potato On this day in 1586, Sir Thomas Harriot brought the first potato back to Britain from the 'New Found Land of Virginia'. The Spanish noticed that the sailors who ate papas (potatoes) did not suffer from scurvy. As mentioned in the previous post, potatoes are native to the Andes mountains and over 3000 varieties are found there.. Fun Facts About Potatoes Potato Facts: Origins of the Potato. 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