Potatoes originated in South America where they have been grown for over 2,000 years.

Did you know potatoes can be grown in a bucket? You keep adding more soil as the shoots grow.

Blight, a fungus disease affecting potatoes, wiped out almost all Ireland’s potato crops in 1845 and 1846. For most of the population, this was their main food source.

By the early 19 ^th century, potatoes had replaced fern roots as the main staple food in the Māori diet.

Potatoes were extensively used by Māori as currency, which they used to barter for iron from European ships. Māori would often save potatoes for trade rather than eat them.