Cultivated for more than 10,000 years, sweet potatoes have out-lived many civilizations they helped nourish
04/07/2018 / By Jessica Dolores
There aren’t many things that are older than our love for sweet potatoes. It’s been going on for over 10,000 years, and despite its unassuming looks, it is found in over 100 countries, where it has fed countless people the world over.
Sweet potatoes have been domesticated since the prehistoric times, according to scientists. Records from ancient caves in Peru show that people have already grown sweet potatoes since then. Initially, sweet potatoes were native to Central and South America, but European colonizers brought it to Europe in the 15th century. From there, the cultivation of sweet potatoes blew up – spreading to Africa, India, southern Asia, and Indonesia in the next century. These days, you don’t need to travel the world for sweet potatoes: They can be found all year round in farmer’s markets and supermarkets near you.
https://www.health.news/2018-04-07-cultivated-for-more-than-10000-years-sweet-potatoes-have-out-lived-many-civilizations-they-helped-nourish.html
