Profile America
-- Friday, August 27th. One of
America's favorite snack foods is
said to have originated this week
near Saratoga Springs, New York, in
1853. The chef at Moon's Lake House,
George Crum, was irritated at a
customer who sent back his fried
potatoes several times, saying they
were too thick and soggy. Crum
decided to slice potatoes paper thin
and stir fry them. The customer was
delighted, and so-called Saratoga
Chips became famous. The exact
history of potato chips is unknown,
but it is thought they originated in
Europe. Worldwide, more than $16
billion of potato chips are sold each
year. In the U.S., chips make up a
good part of the 39 pounds of
potatoes each American eats annually.
You can find these and more facts
about America from the U.S. Census
Bureau online at
<www.census.gov>.
Sources: Snack Food Association
Statistical Abstract of the United
States 2010, t. 213
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010edition.html
