In the US, most potatoes are eaten in form of French fries or chips. They’re in the ultra-processed category that is increasingly connected to a range of health problems. However, it is different in other places, especially in low-income countries. Potatoes are usually prepared simply and eaten as one part of a dish with other vegetables.
Potatoes are rich in vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals; add fiber; and have no fat. They can be and are part of a balanced, nutritious diet. Also, potatoes are very climate friendly. This is largely due to extremely high yield. In 2022, US farmers harvested over 44,000 pounds of potatoes per acre, or over 15 million calories. This makes potatoes relatively inexpensive to produce. Low production costs translate into lower selling prices, which is important in low-income countries in which food security is a pressing issue.
For all these reasons, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has advocated doubling global potato production by 2030.
Source: farmtech-africa.com