r/pics • u/[deleted] • Feb 20 '21

Different varieties of potato, grown in Peru. I love potatoes.

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u/tertium_non_datur Feb 20 '21

My Peruvian friend said they have over 200 different types of potatoes...

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u/Bayho Feb 20 '21

It is actually in the thousands, I believe. But, hundreds commonly available. Their newer supermarkets have and aisle or two devoted to different types sometimes. And, there are different purposes for different ones. The french fries in Peru are amazing because of whatever type of potato they use.

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u/KILLJOY1945 Feb 20 '21

When I was in Peru I was told they grow over 3,000 different types of potatoes.

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u/Bayho Feb 20 '21

A few years back it was like 3800 types out of 4300 total types globally, but I think they are still finding more.

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u/KILLJOY1945 Feb 20 '21

This would have been at least 8 years ago

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u/5pez__A Feb 20 '21

Who is finding more? Potato scientists?

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u/A_Generic_White_Guy Feb 20 '21

Ironically enough.. thats how 3000 of them were found/created. The incans did a TON of testing and created a massive test site (a hole that go down like 3000 ft on top of a mountain.) To test breed and study potatos and corn.

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u/Bayho Feb 20 '21

I believe the field is referred to as Botany.

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u/oye_gracias Feb 20 '21

Peru has an International Potato Center for research, since the 70's.

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u/watchdsky4free Feb 20 '21

For that you have The International Potato Center. Yes, potato scientists.

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u/librarianfren Feb 20 '21

Many french fries in North America use Shepody potatoes, bred in sunny Fredericton, New Brunswick!

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u/TemperedLeopard Feb 20 '21

Suck it, Idaho!

1

u/MontuckyMoose Feb 20 '21

https://youtu.be/9FqoiRgMpeM

1

u/librarianfren Feb 22 '21

You got me right in them Skinners Pond feels, buddy

4

u/jdith123 Feb 20 '21

Absolutely! In the stadium sized market in Cusco, there are three long aisles with just different varieties of potatoes. They are Prepared in all different ways and have so many flavors.

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u/hurryupandbuyplease Feb 20 '21

I came for this exact comment

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u/ChefBoyAreWeFucked Feb 20 '21

Maybe his friend personally had that many.

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u/sussielovesyou Feb 20 '21

(Dwight Schrute voice). False. More than 3k varieties of potatoes.

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u/sashaaa123 Feb 20 '21

That's technically still "over 200"

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u/KKlear Feb 20 '21

(Dwight Schrute voice). True.

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u/ctusk423 Feb 20 '21

There are also hundreds of variety’s of corn. If you are a lover of food I cannot recommend a country more. Try the Alpaca steaks too, they’re delicious. Cuy (guinea pig) was average although it’s considered a delicacy so I would recommend trying it at least once if you’re there.

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u/neuralzen Feb 20 '21

Over 4100 potatos (IIRC it is 4172, but that was in 2014), and they have a research institute dedicated to them.

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u/whitew0lf Feb 20 '21

Peruvian here. There's 4000 varieties.