The potato state Idaho is known for its potatoes for good reason — it produces the most of any state in the U.S., according to the Agriculture Marketing Resource Center.
What state is called the potato State?
Hawaii is known as the Aloha State, Arizona the Grand Canyon State, Florida the Sunshine State. But when you get to Idaho, you realize it’s best known asthe Potato State. Do Americans hate Idaho? Not at all! Officially, Idaho is known as the Gem State, but it’s the potato that most Americans identify Idaho with.
- Americans love their spuds and Idaho’s rich, volcanic soil and mild climate make it the ideal place to grow the perfect potato.
- The potato is actually Idaho’s state vegetable! Idaho takes pride in the potato and the knowledge that 97% of Americans put it on their plate.
- Scenic Idaho, Famous Potatoes” is stamped on Idaho license plates and there’s an Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot.
There’s even an Idaho Potato Commission responsible for marketing the potato and protecting Idaho potatoes’ interests (the popular Russett potato can be grown anywhere in the U.S. but the Commission certifies those grown specifically in Idaho so consumers know they’re getting Idaho quality taters).
nickname – a name different from your official name, but what family or friends call you. aloha – used in Hawaii to say hello or goodbye gem – a valuable stone usually used in jewelry spud – another name for a potato scenic – having or relating to a nice view of natural landscape license plate – an official metal plate with letters and numbers used to identify vehicles tater – another name for a potato tasty – having good flavor and pleasing to eat
Is Ohio the potato state?
Ohio is not among the major potato growing states in the US.
Where is the home of the potatoes?
The potato was the first domesticated vegetable in the region of modern-day southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia between 8000 and 5000 BCE. Cultivation of potatoes in South America may go back 10,000 years, but tubers do not preserve well in the archaeological record, making identification difficult.
The earliest archaeologically verified potato tuber remains have been found at the coastal site of Ancón (central Peru ), dating to 2500 BC. Aside from actual remains, the potato is also found in the Peruvian archaeological record as a design influence of ceramic pottery, often in the shape of vessels.
The potato has since spread around the world and has become a staple crop in most countries. It arrived in Europe sometime before the end of the 16th century by two different ports of entry: the first in Spain around 1570, and the second via the British Isles between 1588 and 1593.
- The first written mention of the potato is a receipt for delivery dated 28 November 1567 between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Antwerp,
- In France, at the end of the 16th century, the potato had been introduced to the Franche-Comté, the Vosges of Lorraine and Alsace.
- By the end of the 18th century it was written in the 1785 edition of Bon Jardinier : “There is no vegetable about which so much has been written and so much enthusiasm has been shown,
The poor should be quite content with this foodstuff.” It had widely replaced the turnip and rutabaga by the 19th century. Throughout Europe, the most important new food in the 19th century was the potato, which had three major advantages over other foods for the consumer: its lower rate of spoilage, its bulk (which easily satisfied hunger) and its cheapness.
Why is Idaho famous for potato?
Idaho’s unique environment provides nearly perfect growing conditions for potatoes. The soil, clear clean water, clean air and climate in Idaho make potatoes superior to any potato grown anywhere else. Summer days along the Snake River valley are sunny and warm, combined with Idaho’s cool nights provide ideal climate conditions for the growing and production of potatoes.
Idaho’s rich volcanic soil is ideally suited for potatoes. Potatoes seem to grow better in a light soil, like volcanic ash which has a rich supply of trace minerals and appears to be necessary for successful potato production. Idaho’s scenic mountains collect snow throughout the winter months. In the spring, the snow melts and flows into large reservoirs both above and below ground.
Water from the reservoirs are used to irrigate the potatoes using irrigation systems which can be programmed using the correct amount of water needed. Lastly, Idaho farmers have generations of experience and knowledge of growing potatoes. Pioneering research to improve the soil, storage and processing have made them the world’s research leaders.
Idaho has the world’s most advanced storage research center and claims more environmentally controlled commercial storage facilities than any other growing region. There may be similar growing areas in the world but none have the complete combination which Idaho has to grow the best potatoes on the market today.
Articles A History of the Potato in Idaho by James W Davis Why Idaho? The correct combination of the elements?. The Idaho’s World Potato Exposition: A brief history of struggles and triumph
Is Idaho potato land?
Idaho is the 43th state in the United Staes of America. The capitol of Idaho is Boise. Actually, Boise most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho. Idaho is called ‘The Potato State’ and ‘The Gem State’. Its called the potato state because of its popular crop. Its called the gem state because nearly every known type of gemstone has been found here.
Is Idaho known for potatoes?
Potatoes. Idaho leads the nation in potato production – we produce nearly 1/3 of all U.S. potatoes. Our growers produce more than 100 million hundredweight of potatoes annually on more than 300,000 acres.
What state makes the most potatoes?
Production – Potatoes remain the top vegetable crop in the United States. They are grown commercially in 30 states, but Idaho grows more potatoes than any other state, followed by Washington. North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Colorado are also leading producers of potatoes.
Where is the potato capital of the world?
Blackfoot boasts the largest potato industry in any one area, and is known as the ‘Potato Capital of the World.’ It is the site of the Idaho Potato Museum (a museum and gift shop that displays and explains the history of Idaho’s potato industry), and the home of the world’s largest baked potato and potato chip.
What state eats the most potatoes?
The National Potato Council tracks this and while it lags behind a year or two, you can easily follow the per capita potato consumption (currently at 117 pounds per year) as well as the highest producing states ( Idaho has been on top since passing Maine in 1957).
Can I sleep in a potato in Idaho?
It was part of the Idaho Potato Commission’s Big Idaho Potato Tour. It has one bedroom, one bed and one bathroom, but it sits on 400 acres of Idaho farmland south of downtown Boise. It will cost a minimum of $165 per night to stay in the spud.
Can you stay in a potato in Idaho?
How do you dispose of a 6-ton spud made of steel, plaster and concrete? You don’t. You recycle it and turn it into the Big Idaho® Potato Hotel, the only potato hotel in the world! The 28-foot long, 12-foot wide and 11.5-foot tall potato is firmly planted in an expansive field in South Boise with breathtaking views of the Owyhee Mountains.
- The massive potato was created in 2012 in celebration of the IPC’s 75th anniversary.
- Bolted to a flatbed trailer the giant spud traveled across the country for seven years.
- Built for a one-year tour, the sturdy spud held out as long as possible before it returned to Idaho to retire.
- Ristie Wolfe, a former member of the Big Idaho® Potato Truck Tour team and tiny house builder extraordinaire, knew instinctively how to transform the head-turning tater into a lasting fixture that folks can continue to enjoy.
Here are a few facts about the eco-friendly hotel
Energy Efficient– The potato’s walls are made of 10-inch thick green expanding foam for optimal heating and cooling efficiencies. Air Conditioning– An 8-inch x 60-inch underground pipe acts as a natural air conditioner and fan pumping cool air into the potato even during hot summer months. Water – The sink is located above the toilet to redirect the fresh water that normally goes into the tank to the sink, saving both water and space. Conveniently Located- Just 20 miles to downtown Boise, guests of the Big Idaho® Potato Hotel can enjoy the sights and sounds of one of the fastest growing cities in America.
And, in case you’re wonderingthe bathroom is located in a recycled silo just a few steps from the potato. The spa-like loo features a giant whirlpool, a fireplace, luxurious amenities and a glass skylight for night-time star-gazing. For more information and/or reservations visit Airbnb.
Where is the largest potato?
CNN — Dug may not be the world’s largest potato, but it’s still pretty spudtacular. When New Zealand couple Colin and Donna Craig-Brown first discovered the gigantic vegetable in their garden last August, they knew they had something special on their hands.
Dug is named for how the two of them unearthed it – by digging. They decided to submit Dug to Guinness World Records, and seven months and one DNA test later, they received some depressing news. “Sadly the specimen is not a potato and is in fact the tuber of a type of gourd. For this reason we do unfortunately have to disqualify the application,” a Guinness World Records spokesperson told the couple via email.
A tuber is an underground organic structure that stores water and helps plants regrow after winter or harsh weather, according to Amy Charkowski, professor and department head in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. 
Hamilton resident Colin Craig-Brown, 62, was surprised to hear the DNA results and quickly got to work unraveling the mystery. After pouring over the data results provided by Guinness World Records, he discovered that Dug came from a choko, a starchy plant in their garden that looks like a wrinkly, green pear.
Charkowski hypothesized, however, that Dug may actually be a tuberous root, a storage root similar to a potato tuber, but lacks buds like the eyes on a potato. A choko, also known as chayote, grows from tuberous roots, according to the Wisconsin Master Gardener, He was initially surprised since he had tried a raw sample of Dug that tasted identical to a potato, but further research revealed chokos can have a similar flavor.
The revelation came as a relief to Craig-Brown, because he was confused as to how a gourd could have gotten into that side of his garden. “At least I answered all the questions and don’t need to lay awake at 3 in the morning trying to figure out what has gone wrong with Mother Nature,” he said.
A longtime gardener, Craig-Brown found Dug when he was tending to his plants and struck a hard object under the soil. After pulling out the monstrous vegetable, he was “gobsmacked” at the size – 7.9 kilograms (17.4 pounds), to be exact. The current potato record-holder is Peter Glazebrook, a United Kingdom resident who grew a spud weighing 4.98 kilograms (11 pounds) in 2011.
A little trolley was built to cart Dug around, and the “potato” quickly became the talk of the town, Craig-Brown said. A couple weeks into Dug’s life above ground, Craig-Brown noticed it was spoiling so he stored the coveted veggie in his freezer.
What is the nickname of Idaho?
Idaho has been nicknamed ‘ the Gem State ‘ since its territorial days. The name of the territory, however, was originally more hype than fact.
Can you make French fries with Idaho potatoes?
- Select quality potatoes. The best potatoes to use for making fresh French fries are Idaho Russet Potatoes. The high solids content of the Idaho Potato guarantees consistent flavor, golden color and fluffy potato inside texture. In addition, the long oval shape of the Idaho Potato will result in eye-pleasing cut fries. Look for an oval shape, nice length and shallow eyes. No.1 grade potatoes yield the highest, but No.2 potatoes may make a more economical choice. The taste is the same. Potato Storage Tip: the ideal temperature to store fresh potatoes for fries in your location is 55 degrees F. (Refrigerated potatoes can turn the starch in the potato to sugar, so don’t let the temperature go below 40 degrees F.) Cut the potatoes into strips. Make sure the cutting blades are sharp; worn out blades feather-cut the fries, which will then crack into smaller pieces in the fryer. Check and replace often. Cutting tip: Everyone likes long French fries – not only do they look more appetizing, you get better plate coverage. Once the potatoes are cut, rinse in cold water until the water runoff is clear. This removes excess starch or sugar. Drain or spin excess water away before blanching the potatoes. Remove as much moisture as possible. Another tip: add a little citrus acid or vinegar to the water to help prevent oxidation. To blanch (partially cook) Idaho Russet Burbank potatoes in oil takes three minutes at 350 degrees F (The Norkotah variety should be blanched at a slightly lower temp of 325 degrees F for five to seven minutes.)Blanching is mandatory if you want to improve the internal texture because it creates a fluffy baked potato-like center and speeds up the finish frying.The blanched potato is ready when the internal temp of the potato reaches 160 degrees F. After draining the blanched potatoes, cool to room temperature and store in uncovered containers, then refrigerate until ready to use. Tip: If you immediately cover the warm potatoes with a lid, it steams the outer surface, resulting in soggy fries.) Bring out the chilled potatoes at serving time and do a final fry at 350 degrees F for 2-4 minutes. The primary purpose of this frying step is to remove moisture and “cook” the potato. Never crank up the thermostat to over 370 degrees F as this shortens the life of the frying oil.After thirty seconds, shake the basket to keep the fries from sticking together and to even out oil circulation issues resulting in cool spots in the potatoes.Oil Tip: The oil should be clear and clean-looking. It should not be murky with lots of particles. Skim loose pieces of potatoes when cooking, and filter your oil daily. (Water, air, temperature-abuse and an accumulation of by-products are the major causes of oil breakdown.) Fryer Tip: Good performance fryers should let the oil temp recover in just over two minutes. You can test your fryer by measuring the temperature before dropping a basket of fries into the oil and then matching that temperature with a thermostat two minutes later. Overfilling the basket and dropping two baskets with fries at once will overpower the ability of all but the best fryers.
- Though Spaniards began exploring the Northwest in 1592, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were the first European-Americans to enter Idaho in 1805.
- During the Gold Rush of the mid-1800s, miners flocked to California and Idaho, where they found gold, copper and lead.
- In the mid-19th century, Union and Confederate supporters fleeing the Civil War went west to Idaho, and Mormons flocked to the region to avoid persecution.
Is the Idaho potato truck a real potato?
All jokes aside, the giant potato is real well, it’s not a real potato, it’s the retired spokespotato of the Idaho Potato Commission’s Big Idaho Potato Tour – and you can stay the night inside of it!
What is the nickname of Idaho?
Idaho has been nicknamed ‘ the Gem State ‘ since its territorial days. The name of the territory, however, was originally more hype than fact.
What is Idaho known for?
Idaho is as well known for its potatoes, trout and precious stones as it is for its unspoiled, rugged landscapes. Snowy mountains, deep valleys, lakes and rivers cover the Gem State, which is twice the size of the six New England states combined. A Rocky Mountain state, Idaho is bordered by Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and a small portion of Canada’s British Columbia.
Today more Mormons live in Idaho than in almost any other state. President Abraham Lincoln created the Idaho Territory, which included much of the land that would become Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. In 1868, modern Idaho was carved from the territory, and in 1890 it became the 43rd state,
What are all the states known as?
List of nicknames of U.S. states
| state | nickname |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Cotton State, Yellowhammer State |
| Alaska | The Last Frontier |
| Arizona | Grand Canyon State |
| Arkansas | Natural State |
Why is Idaho the Gem State?
Steven Andrews worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. – Idaho is nicknamed “The Gem State” for the abundance of rare minerals that have been found in all corners of the state. For those who really know their trivia, you might also know that the state gem is the Star Garnet. 
Head to northern Idaho to dig for garnets. Photo Credit: Steven Andrews. The Emerald Creek Garnet Area near St. Maries in northern Idaho, offers rockhounds the chance to dig up their own star garnet. A permit to dig costs $10 per day and allows you to keep up to five pounds of stones.