The dazzling variety of potatoes at a market in Lima, capital of Peru, offered visitors a sensory feast, as the country celebrated the International Day of Potato on Friday.
In the market, stalls were covered with a vibrant array of potatoes, each labeled neatly with its name and the place of origin. Beyond their diverse shapes and colors, every potato boasts distinct flavors and unique nutritional benefits.
Also available at the stalls was a type of dehydrated potato reputed to be capable of staying preserved for up to ten years without spoiling.
The special preservation technique dates back to the ancient civilization of the Andes, when locals first created a unique freeze-drying process to make these potatoes.
"First, we take the potatoes outdoors and put them in cold for about three days. Then we take them to the river, where they soak in the water for about three to four weeks. After that, we take them out and freeze them again. After that, we peel them. After five days of sun-drying, we get this result, the white dehydrated potatoes," said John Macola Murillo, a stall keeper selling dehydrated potatoes.
For Peruvian people, potatoes are more than just a food ever-present on their dining tables. They can be processed into many delicacies including crispy potato chips, potato liquor, potato bread, and even potato ice cream.
As the United Nations General Assembly has designated May 30 as the International Day of Potato, Peru, renowned as the birthplace of potatoes, celebrates this occasion with nationwide festivities on the day each year.
With origins in the Andes Mountains dating back around 8,000 years, potatoes hold both cultural and economic significance in Peru, a country that boasts the world's greatest diversity of potatoes, with over 4,000 varieties.
Each year, the country produces around five million metric tons and cultivates about 330,000 hectares of potatoes, according to Peru's Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation.
In recent years, the country has made remarkable strides in exporting processed potato products, with its frozen potatoes, potato chips, and seeds of indigenous species increasingly making their way to international markets.
International potato day celebrated in Peru with festivities, trade
