From Field to From Field to PlatePlateThe Potato ChipThe Potato Chip

Christine Davis Beltsville Academy June 2009

Where do potato chips Where do potato chips come from? come from?

PotatoesPotatoes

Potatoes are a Potatoes are a cool-season cool-season vegetablevegetable

Potatoes are not Potatoes are not roots but roots but specialized specialized underground underground storage stems storage stems called "tubers.”called "tubers.”

Which states grow Which states grow potatoes?potatoes?

34 States Grow 34 States Grow PotatoesPotatoes

Farming PotatoesFarming Potatoes

Potato Plants Potato Plants take lots of take lots of roomroom

A potato A potato plant will plant will grow in most grow in most soils soils

Potato SeedsPotato Seeds

Potatoes are Potatoes are started from started from "seed "seed pieces” that pieces” that sprout rather sprout rather than from than from true seeds. true seeds.

Handle with CareHandle with Care

Use extreme caution Use extreme caution when hoeing near when hoeing near potato plants because potato plants because developing tubers are developing tubers are easily cut and ruined.easily cut and ruined.

““Sunburned" or Sunburned" or greened tubers happen greened tubers happen when there is too when there is too much sun exposure. much sun exposure.

HarvestingHarvesting

Potatoes are harvested Potatoes are harvested after the vines have died.after the vines have died.

The tubers develop 4 to 6 The tubers develop 4 to 6 inches beneath the soil inches beneath the soil surface, a shovel or surface, a shovel or spading fork is a useful spading fork is a useful tool for digging potatoestool for digging potatoes..

Large farm equipment Large farm equipment may be used to help may be used to help harvest.harvest.

Potatoes are loaded on Potatoes are loaded on trucks.trucks.

From Farm To FactoryFrom Farm To Factory

Trucks Trucks carrying carrying 70,000 70,000 pounds of pounds of potatoes potatoes deliver them deliver them to the to the factoriesfactories. .

At the factories, potatoes At the factories, potatoes are cleaned, sorted and are cleaned, sorted and

inspectedinspected..

Then they are peeled, Then they are peeled, sliced, and inspected sliced, and inspected

again.again.

They are fried.They are fried.

After frying, salt is After frying, salt is added.added.

More seasoning may be More seasoning may be added and the chips are added and the chips are

packaged.packaged.

The product is packed in The product is packed in boxes and loaded on boxes and loaded on

trucks.trucks.

Trucks will deliver the potato Trucks will deliver the potato chips to the store.chips to the store.

Then you will buy the Then you will buy the potato chips from the potato chips from the

store.store.

Finally, the potato chips are on your

plate!

Potato Chip HistoryPotato Chip History

Invented in 1853 by Native American George Invented in 1853 by Native American George Crum who was employed as a chef at an Crum who was employed as a chef at an elegant resort in Saratoga Springs, New York. elegant resort in Saratoga Springs, New York.

After a dinner guest rejected Crum’s French After a dinner guest rejected Crum’s French fries because they were too think, Crum fries because they were too think, Crum made fries too thin and crisp to skewer with a made fries too thin and crisp to skewer with a fork. fork.

The plan backfired. The guest loved the The plan backfired. The guest loved the browned, paper-thin potatoes, and other browned, paper-thin potatoes, and other diners began requesting Crum's potato chipsdiners began requesting Crum's potato chips

Resources:Resources:

http://www.herrs.comhttp://www.herrs.com/http:///http://

www.utzsnacks.com/www.utzsnacks.com/http://http://

www.kitchenproject.com/www.kitchenproject.com/history/history/

AmericanHeritageRecipes/AmericanHeritageRecipes/PotatoChip.htmPotatoChip.htm

Thanks George!