How The Humble Potato Conquered the World

Feeding the People: The Politics of the Potato Guest: Rebecca Earle, Head of Department and Professor of History at the University of Warwick. She is the author of three books, including "Feeding the People: The Politics of the Potato" As a cheap and reliable source of calories and nutrients, the potato has few if any equals. Prior to 1500, no on outside of the South American Andes had ever heard of it. But in short order, it conquered the world. How did it pull that off? And with what consequences? Voyage of Mercy Guest: Stephen Puleo, author, "Voyage of Mercy: The USS Jamestown, the Irish Famine, and the Remarkable Story of America's First Humanitarian Mission" When Ireland was starving in the potato famine of the 1840s, a massive nationwide American effort sent tons of food and supplies to relieve the suffering. This mission of mercy changed the face of humanitarian aid forever and cemented Irish loyalty to America.