Hello Educators!
Please feel free to “Make a Copy” of these slides to edit and use with K-12 students.
Additional resources for Harvest of the Month:
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Potatoes, Papa, Baradhada, Qos
What do you know about potatoes?
What do you wonder about potatoes?
Elementary Potato Video
Secondary Video Options
Minnesota Potatoes
Potatoes are grown in large fields. The leaves and stems of a potato plant grow above ground.
The part of a potato plant that we eat is called a tuber. It grows underground.
Minnesota Potatoes
Minnesota Potatoes
You will be eating potatoes from:
Share farm name, location, images, videos, etc.
Find Your Tastes!
Potatoes come in many colors, flavors and textures! Try as many varieties of potatoes as you can to find what your taste buds like best! A few examples of potato varieties:
Russet potatoes - starchy with brown skins, good for baking
Red potatoes - white, yellow, or red flesh with starchy or waxy texture
White potatoes - white or yellow flesh, sweet, mild flavor
Purple potatoes - purple flesh
Fingerling types - delicate skin with starchy, creamy flavor
Celebrate Culture!
Historians believe that potatoes were originally from the South American Andes, more specifically, modern day Peru.
Potatoes were brought to Europe in the 1500s and finally to the US in the 1600s. The potato had to travel the world before finding a place in Minnesota and on your lunch plate!
Connect to your Community
Potatoes have an important connection to many communities in Minnesota.
The Red River Valley in northwest Minnesota is home to many potato farms. The town of Moorhead is in the Red River Valley. Moorhead Public Schools selected their school mascot to be the Spuds.
Barnesville, Minnesota, is also located in the Red River Valley. Each year Barnesville celebrates Potato Days: two days of “spud”- tacular excitement!
Explore the history of your community and see if there are any connections to potatoes!
Potato Fun Facts!
Most potatoes are not grown from seeds. They are grown from pieces of potatoes with “eyes”.
Potatoes were the first vegetable grown in space.
Potatoes can be used to make many different delicious foods - mashed potatoes, hash browns, french fries, tator tots, potato chips, and more!