Vodka, Fries, and Famine: Thank the Potato

It doesn’t look like much — just a lump pulled from the dirt. Yet this humble potato has fueled empires, filled plates, and even caused catastrophe.

Today is National Potato Day, a nod to one of the world’s most enduring and versatile foods. First cultivated in the Andes thousands of years ago, the potato spread across the globe to become a kitchen staple. From French fries to vodka, it’s fed armies, inspired cuisines, and left its mark on history — the Irish potato famine of the 19th century reshaped migration and culture in ways still felt today.

My photograph marks the day with a simple pile of red and yellow potatoes, unstyled, against a black background. Before they’re mashed, fried, roasted, or turned into chips, they remain what they’ve always been: humble roots pulled from the earth.

More on my Commercial Food Gallery at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000WFAqDJQOgKU Take a look it might make you hungry!