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!

August 19, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: agriculture, Andes origin, black background photography, cooking ingredients, culinary staple, farming, Food History, Food Photography, French fries, fresh produce, humble foods, Irish potato famine, kitchen essentials, National Potato Day, potato, potatoes, red potatoes, root vegetables, vodka, yellow potatoes | Leave a comment