Potatoes originated in the area of southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia.
Potatoes were domesticated approximately 7,000–10,000 years ago, and spred throughout the Americas, then into Europe with the cross ocean trade of European merchant ships.
Approximately 5,000 varieties of potato exist today, with over 3,000 in the Ades region alone.

An interesting note:  Potatoes were responsible for a quarter of the growth in Old World population and urbanization between 1700 and 1900.
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