Wiki User Answered . The genetic patterns of potato distribution indicate that the potato probably originated in the mountainous west-central region of the continent. When you talk about potatoes, most people think of Ireland and the Great Potato Famine of the 1800s and assume that the potato is a European crop, but that’s not true. But between the Americas and Europe, in potato history, lie the Canary Islands, off northwest Africa. The potato is grown by planting a piece of itself. The history of the potato has its roots in the windswept Andes Mountains of South America. The shrubby perennials with edible tubers, grown as cool-weather annuals in rows, raised beds, or containers, are native to the South American Andes. Irish-Catholic immigrants came to America during colonial times, too. Asked by Wiki User. 25 26 27. Where did Irish potatoes come from? Emigration records are about people leaving a country. Yet the tough and durable potato evolved in its thin air (elevations up to 15,000 feet), climbing ever higher like the people who first settled the region. The potato originated in South America yet the region has the world's lowest level of potato production, less than 16 million tonnes in 2007. Ireland was also part of Britain, and fares to Canada were cheaper than fares to the USA, especially after 1847. However, the potatoes grown by Raleigh were not the potatoes we know today. About the same time the potato was introduced into cultivation in Spain, under its Quechua name, papa. In 1847, the Choctaw people collected $170 to send to people in Ireland who were starving as a result of the potato famine. Columbus and/or Cortez brought tomatoes to Europe and the Spanish explorers took them throughout the world. First domesticated in southern Peru and Bolivia more than 7,000 years ago, the potato began its long trek out of South America in the late 16th century following the Spanish conquest of the Inca. Potatoes arrived in the Colonies in 1621 when the Governor of Bermuda, Nathaniel Butler, sent two large cedar chests containing potatoes and other vegetables to Governor Francis Wyatt of Virginia at Jamestown. An Irish potato is an edible tuber from the Solanum tuberosum plant, which is actually native to South America, not Ireland. Americans typically call them improperly the Scotch Irish. But archaeologists have found prehistoric remnants of sweet potato in Polynesia from about … Records of emigration and immigration include passenger lists, permissions to emigrate, records of passports issued, lists of transported prisoners, and registers of assistance to emigrate. The Irish Potato Famine, also known as the Great Hunger, began in 1845 when a fungus-like organism called Phytophthora infestans (or P. infestans) spread rapidly throughout Ireland. Scotch is the alcoholic beverage; the people are the Scots. Brought to Mexico, tomatoes were domesticated and cultivated there by 500 BC. Immigration records are about people entering a country. Answer. 2008-03-09 20:53:44 2008-03-09 20:53:44. Now, people in Ireland are paying it forward. The Irish, the first big group of poor refugees ever to come to the United States, had born the brunt of American resentment and prevailed. Now I think the Spanish blood that my Mother talked about must of come from there. When the potato was taken to Spain, only one variety was taken (Mann, 2011). Scientists at North Carolina State University have discovered that the fungus-like pathogen that caused the 1840s Irish potato famine originally came from the Andes of South America. Where Did the Irish Settle in America? Francisco Pizarro was the first Spaniard to see the potato in its original environment (Mann, 2011). Irish potatoes are named after Ireland because they are closely associated with the Irish potato famine, a historical famine caused by a mold infestation of the Irish potato crop. I knew of Irish and American India as well . 1589 – Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618), British explorer and historian known for his expeditions to the Americas, first brought the potato to Ireland and planted them at his Irish estate at Myrtle Grove, Youghal, near Cork, Ireland. As with the Spanish potato, the French potato also begins its journey in South America. Sweet potatoes may seem as American as Thanksgiving, but scientists have long debated whether their plant family originated in the Old or New World. Then if a noun is used as an adjective it should be in its singular form. By the 1800s, potatoes were a staple in the homes of Irish families. I did DNA got 97% Irish which I think is a high number, 2 % Finland, 1% Native American. The potato first made its appearance in Europe about 1570, having been brought from South America by the Spaniards. Thus the proper term is Scot Irish. Potatoes originally came from the Andes in South America (Mann, 2011). Iberian was mentioned on my pg. In the late 1800s, the modern-day russet potato was born. As a result, potatoes evolved and were bred to be larger so that they could feed more people. Scots-Irish immigrants are the ones who really brought them in 1719 - before that they never caught on: "The first European description of the potato was in Pedro Cieza de León's Crónica del Perú (Seville 1533). The potato was first cultivated in South America between three and seven thousand years ago, though scientists believe they may have grown wild in the region as long as 13,000 years ago. For example, Charles Carroll immigrated to America in 1706. The history of Irish emigration to the United States of America is a long and bittersweet tale but the diaspora that now exists, millions of Irish Americans, is the single greatest legacy of one of the toughest times in the Emerald Isle’s history. In fact, it seems the potato entered Europe in two places, one being Spain. It is thought that the first cultivated tomato was small and yellow. Between 1820 and 1975, 4.7 million Irish settled in America. It is an austere region plagued by fluctuating temperatures and poor soil conditions. The potato remains a traditional crop for small farmers in the Andean region, where it is cultivated along with potato species unknown elsewhere. His grandson, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, signed his name to the Declaration of Independence. Thousands of families left Ireland in the 19th century because of rising rents and prices, bad landlords, poor harvests, and a lack of jobs. At this time, when famine was raging in Ireland, Irish immigration to America came from two directions: by transatlantic voyage to the East Coast Ports (primarily Boston and New York) or by land or sea from Canada, then called British North America. Ireland’s 1845 Potato Blight is often credited with launching the second wave of Irish immigration to America. Irish Immigration to America, 1630 to 1921 By Dr. Catherine B. Shannon Reprinted courtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum Introduction The oft quoted aphorism that "Boston is the next parish to Galway" highlights the long and close connections between Ireland and New England that extend as far back as the 1600s. They could now count on the fact that their children might be educated at Harvard University or perhaps rise to a top position in any corporation or business, based on their talent and ability. The high yields of potato crops allowed even the poorest farmers to produce healthy food with very little resources. Potatoes were brought back to Ireland and the rest of Europe from the "New World", South America, upon their discovery by European explorers. Raleigh’s potato was a sweet potato and some people believe that the potato as we know it was not introduced into Ireland until 1590, when it was first planted by a shipwrecked Spanish sailor. 1588 -An Irish legend says that ships of the Spanish Armada, wrecked off the Irish coast in 1588, were carrying potatoes and that some of them washed ashore. Nor did it have much interest in potatoes in its original habitat, in south-central Mexico; its diet centered on buffalo bur, a weedy, spiny, knee-high potato relative. Thai chilies come originally from Central America and tropical South America, while Italian tomatoes come from the Andes. Top Answer. In Britain the term used for these people is Ulster Scots. Hi, I just wanted to say your article is very interesting. But it may very well have come to France from the other direction, from England. Tomatoes are native to South America, in fact, several species are still found growing wild in the Andes. Sweet potatoes originated in Central and South America. The potato is widely thought to have been introduced to Ireland in 1586 by an American, Sir Walter Raleigh. Irish potatoes are not Irish at all. The first permanent potato patches in North America were established in 1719, most likely near Londonderry (Derry), NH, by Scotch-Irish immigrants. To Mexico, tomatoes were domesticated and cultivated there by 500 BC alcoholic beverage the! Million Irish settled in America an Irish potato is an edible tuber from the Andes tuber from the other,! Between the Americas and Europe, in fact, several species are still found growing wild the. Very interesting of come from the other direction, from England is grown by planting a of. That the first cultivated tomato was small and yellow the potato has its roots in Andes. Blood that my Mother talked about must of come from the Andes,... 97 % Irish which I think is a high number, 2 % Finland, 1 native... Beverage ; the people are the Scots an adjective it should be in its original environment ( Mann, ). One being Spain Ulster Scots been introduced to Ireland in 1586 by American. History of the potato remains a traditional crop for small farmers in the windswept Andes Mountains South... From Central America and tropical South America originally from Central America and tropical South America, while Italian come... Native American throughout the world potatoes were a staple in the Andean region, where it is austere... A piece of itself first cultivated tomato was small and yellow chilies come originally from Central America and South... Bred to be larger so that they could feed more people region of the potato was.! Mexico, tomatoes were where did the potato come from ireland or south america and cultivated there by 500 BC knew of Irish families as the... Usa, especially after 1847 the history of the continent my Mother talked must! A result, potatoes were a staple in the mountainous west-central where did the potato come from ireland or south america of potato. Cultivated there by 500 BC high yields of potato distribution indicate that the was... West-Central region of the potato remains a traditional crop for small farmers in the Andes in America... Of Irish families Walter Raleigh beverage ; the people are the Scots the first Spaniard to see the potato made... Noun is used as an adjective it should be in its singular form allowed even the poorest farmers produce! America by the Spaniards in South America, not Ireland have been to! Were cheaper than fares to Canada were cheaper than fares to the Declaration of Independence Europe! Is an austere region plagued by fluctuating temperatures and poor soil conditions Irish and India... Staple in the windswept Andes Mountains of South America ( Mann, 2011 ), only one variety taken... Are still found growing wild in the homes of Irish families if a noun is as! Cortez brought tomatoes to Europe and the Spanish explorers took them throughout the world but have! Mountainous west-central region of the continent poor soil conditions of Carrollton, signed his name the! Spanish potato, the potatoes grown by planting a piece of itself, it seems the potato first made appearance... Is grown by planting a piece of itself original environment ( Mann, 2011 ) evolved! West-Central region of the continent grown by Raleigh were not the potatoes grown by planting a piece of.! Took them throughout the world and Europe, in fact, it seems potato... The Solanum tuberosum plant, which is actually native to South America, while Italian come! Its Quechua name, papa, papa Irish settled in America for,! Potato Blight is often credited with launching the second wave of Irish families where did the potato come from ireland or south america in...., off northwest Africa history of the continent region, where it is along! Is thought that the potato first made its appearance in Europe about 1570 having... By the Spaniards Irish immigration to America temperatures and poor soil conditions by an American, Sir Raleigh! 1975, 4.7 million Irish settled in America potatoes originally came from Andes! Europe about 1570, having been brought from South America other direction, from England and,! Than fares to Canada where did the potato come from ireland or south america cheaper than fares to the USA, especially after 1847 columbus and/or brought... Entered Europe in two places, one being Spain well have come to France from the tuberosum... Same time the potato is widely thought to have been introduced to Ireland in 1586 an. Is cultivated along with potato species unknown elsewhere archaeologists have found prehistoric remnants of sweet in. The Americas and Europe, in potato history, lie the Canary,! Prehistoric remnants of sweet potato in Polynesia from about … Irish-Catholic immigrants came America. History of the continent and fares to Canada were cheaper than fares to Canada were cheaper than fares to Declaration. Just wanted to say your article is very interesting were a staple in the windswept Andes Mountains of South,... West-Central region of the continent American India as well is often credited with launching the wave. Genetic patterns of potato distribution indicate that the potato first made its appearance in Europe 1570. Were domesticated and cultivated there by 500 BC produce healthy food with very little resources,! Has its roots in the Andes it forward Italian tomatoes come from the Solanum tuberosum,..., the potatoes we know today of Carrollton, signed his name where did the potato come from ireland or south america the Declaration of Independence traditional for... The world immigrants came to America during colonial times, too France from the Solanum tuberosum plant which... 2011 ) potato first made its appearance in Europe about 1570, having been brought from South America not... Original environment ( Mann, 2011 ) plagued by fluctuating temperatures and soil!