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FUN FACTS

One potato, two potato...
Actually there are more than 200 potato varieties of all shapes and sizes grown in the United States.

Often imitated, never duplicated.
If they’re called “Tater-Tots®” shredded potatoes, they must be from Ore-Ida®! Despite the many imitators that have appeared over the years, the brand name Tater Tots® is a registered trademark of the Ore-Ida® Business.

How do you say …“potato”?
Learn how to say potato in other languages: Pomme de terre (French) patata (Spanish); panbowka (Polish); or yang shee (Chinese).

America's favorite vegetable.
Every year Americans consume about 140 pounds of potatoes per person.

Not to be outdone.
Europeans consume twice as many spuds as American potato lovers – a whopping 280 pounds of potatoes per person a year!

Potato Picking.
The greatest number of U.S. barrels picked in a 9 ½ hour day is 235 by Walter Sirois of Caribou, Maine on September 30, 1950.

Fashion Statement.
Marie Antoinette made potatoes a fashion statement when she paraded through the French countryside wearing potato blossoms in her hair. They soon became the rage in Parisian court circles.

Worth it's Weight in Gold.
Gold Rush miners prized the potato, high in vitamin C, because it prevented scurvy. Men traded gold for the precious potato, ounce for ounce.

Potato King.
Louis XVI of France wore potato flowers in his buttonhole to encourage the growing of potatoes.

Work of Art.
Vincent Van Gogh painted four still-life canvases devoted entirely to the potato.

In Tribute.
In Germany, there is a monument to the potato with the inscription "To God and Francis Drake, who brought to Europe for the everlasting benefit of the poor – the Potato."

Old ‘Potato’ Tale.
A peeled potato in the pocket was assumed to cure a toothache and a dried potato worn around the neck to help rheumatism.

Say ‘Potato’!
In 1907, French Chemist Louis Lumiere used microscopic grains of potato starch to create the first auto chromes used in photography before the development of color film.

Any Relation?
The potato is one of about 2,000 species in the “Solanaceae” family, which includes such plants as tomato, eggplant, pepper, ground cherry, and petunia.

Potatoes are a "tuber" or root vegetable.
The edible part of the potato plant grows under ground.

The Potato Museum.
One of the world's few Potato Museums is located in Washington D.C. It contains over 2,000 potato artifacts, including antique harvesting tools, an 1893 potato flask and a 1903 Parker Brothers game called "The Potato Race."

Keep Peeling!
The greatest amount of potatoes peeled by five people with standard kitchen knives in 45 minutes is 587 lbs., 8 oz. in Melbourne, Vic, Australia on March 17, 1981.

Healthy Skin.
Potato skins contain lots of nutrients including fiber, iron, calcium, zinc, phosphorous and B vitamins.

Where No Man Has Gone Before.
In 1995 the potato was the first vegetable grown in outer space.

In the Beginning.
Inca Indians in Peru were the first to grow potatoes in approximately 2500BC.

Grow Potatoes Or Else!
In the late 17th Century, Germany's King Frederik William decided potatoes could solve the food shortage problem and ordered the peasants to plant potatoes or have their noses cut off!

The Final Four.
Potatoes are the world's fourth food staple... after wheat, corn and rice.

Secret Weapon.
Potatoes were seen as one of the best wartime foods throughout Europe because of their nutritional value and fast growth.

Potato War.
In 1778 Prussia and Austria fought a war by trying to starve each other's army by consuming their food source, mostly potatoes. The war became known as the Potato War.

No Wasted Space.
The potato is known to produce more food per unit area of land planted than any other major-planted crop.

A Potato Is All You Need.
At one time, according to the Encyclopedia Americana, nutritionists believed the consumption of 5 pounds of potatoes per day plus one quart of milk would provide all the nutrients essential for the human diet.

Pound for Pound.
It takes 10,000 pounds of potatoes to make 3,500 pounds of potato chips. In the U.S., a pound of potato chips costs two hundred times more than a pound of potatoes!

Frozen Freshness.
In 2004 the USDA changed regulations to define frozen French fries as "fresh vegetables."

Mr. Potato Head.
He was born in Rhode Island in 1952 and was the first toy to be advertised on television.

Potato License.
The word "Potato" first appeared on an Idaho license plate in 1928. The now famous words, "Famous Potatoes", appeared on Idaho plates in 1957.

We’re #1.
Idaho is the number one producer of potatoes in the nation. The state vegetable is, of course, the potato.

French What?
America's first introduction to French fries dates to 1802 when President Thomas Jefferson served French fries at a White House dinner.

More Fries Please.
Americans eat more than 16 pounds of French fries every year, which comes to over 2 million tons!

Most Popular.
Frozen potato products, which include French fries, are the #1 prepared style of potatoes in the U.S.

Potato, ‘Batata’.
The potato, a name derived from the American Indian word "Batata", was introduced to Europeans by Spanish conquerors during the late 16th Century.

All-Righta!
Ore-Ida Potato Products, Inc. was formed in 1952 with its first and largest Ore-Ida® potato-processing facility located in Oregon, right near the border of Idaho. It was here that founder F. Nephi Grigg procured many of his potatoes. Thus, the brand name “Ore-Ida®” was born, combining the first few letters of Oregon and Idaho. This name inspired one of the world’s most memorable advertising slogans: “When it says Ore-Ida®, it’s All Righta,” which was used for more than a decade.

Water Weight.
A potato is about 80% water and 20% solid.

Birth of a Tot.
Tater Tots® shredded potatoes were born in 1953 when Ore-Ida® founders were trying to figure out what to do with left over slivers of cut up potatoes. They came up with the novel idea of chopping up the potato slivers, adding flour and seasoning, then pushing the mash through holes and slicing off pieces of what came out on the other side. Tater Tots® were born.

Golden Anniversary.
The Grigg brothers, founders of Ore-Ida®, sold the first Tater Tots® shredded potatoes in 1954, thus making 2004 the 50th “Golden Brown” anniversary of The Tater Tots® Brand.

One Big Potato!
The largest potato grown was 18 pounds and 4 ounces according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It was grown in England in 1795.

Please Pass the Potatoes.
The potato is the second most consumed food in the United States - trailing only milk products.

Low-Cal Diet.
Contrary to a common misconception, potatoes are not high in calories. One medium sized potato has fewer calories than a grapefruit, more potassium than a banana, and more usable iron than any other vegetable.

Health Kick.
One medium sized potato contains 110 calories, while a one-cup serving of rice has 225 calories, and a cup of pasta has 155 calories. Potatoes are also high in fiber, and loaded with complex carbohydrates. And best of all, potatoes are fat-free!

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