Potatoes are grown on farms in 34 states and are harvested after the vines have died. The potatoes are dug up from 4 to 6 inches beneath the soil using shovels or farming equipment. Trucks then deliver the potatoes from the farms to factories where they are cleaned, peeled, sliced, fried, salted, seasoned, packaged, and shipped to stores, making their way from field to plate as potato chips. Potato chips were invented in 1853 by George Crum at a resort in Saratoga Springs, New York when he made fries too thin in response to a guest's complaint, creating the first potato chips which were well-received.

1. From Field to Plate The Potato Chip Christine Davis Beltsville Academy June 2009

2. Where do potato chips come from?

3. Potatoes Potatoes are a cool-season vegetable Potatoes are not roots but specialized underground storage stems called "tubers.”

4. Which states grow potatoes?

5. 34 States Grow Potatoes

6. Farming Potatoes Potato Plants take lots of room A potato plant will grow in most soils

7. Potato Seeds Potatoes are started from "seed pieces” that sprout rather than from true seeds.

8. Handle with Care Use extreme caution when hoeing near potato plants because developing tubers are easily cut and ruined. “ Sunburned" or greened tubers happen when there is too much sun exposure.

9. Harvesting Potatoes are harvested after the vines have died. The tubers develop 4 to 6 inches beneath the soil surface, a shovel or spading fork is a useful tool for digging potatoes . Large farm equipment may be used to help harvest. Potatoes are loaded on trucks.

10. From Farm To Factory Trucks carrying 70,000 pounds of potatoes deliver them to the factories .

11. At the factories, potatoes are cleaned, sorted and inspected .

12. Then they are peeled, sliced, and inspected again.

13. They are fried.

14. After frying, salt is added.

15. More seasoning may be added and the chips are packaged.

16. The product is packed in boxes and loaded on trucks.

17. Trucks will deliver the potato chips to the store.

18. Then you will buy the potato chips from the store. Finally, the potato chips are on your plate!

19. Potato Chip History Invented in 1853 by Native American George Crum who was employed as a chef at an elegant resort in Saratoga Springs, New York. After a dinner guest rejected Crum’s French fries because they were too think, Crum made fries too thin and crisp to skewer with a fork. The plan backfired. The guest loved the browned, paper-thin potatoes, and other diners began requesting Crum's potato chips

20. Resources: http://www.herrs.com /http://www.utzsnacks.com/ http://www.kitchenproject.com/history/AmericanHeritageRecipes/PotatoChip.htm Thanks George!