This is an official 5 A Day recipe, provided by Red River Valley Potato Growers Association. The name potato is believed to have originated from the Indian name batatas. Most people agree that the potato originated in South America, although the exact place of origin is uncertain. Read more . The potato is one of about 2,000 species in the Solanaceae family, which includes such plants as tomato, eggplant, pepper, ground cherry, and petunia. In Germany, there is a monument to the potato with the inscription To God and Francis Drake, who brought to Europe for the everlasting benefit of the poor - the Potato. Origins of the word spud can be traced to the instrument used to dig potatoes from the ground...the SPADE! Potatoes are the world's 4th food staple...after wheat, corn and rice. The Mr. Potato Head doll was born in 1952 and was introduced to Mrs. Potato Head in 1953. According to Playskool, Inc., the two honeymooned in Boise, Idaho and have 12 children.