The potato was introduced to the world from its native Peru several hundred years ago and quickly spread to all corners of the globe. These days its importance as a staple food crop cannot be overstated. There are several other tubers from the Andes region of South America that have a promising future, including the mashua, yacón, ulluco, and oca.
Mashua[edit | edit source]
| Country | Name/Nickname |
|---|---|
| Peru | Mashua, mascho, añu |
| Bolivia | Añu |
| Colombia | Cubio |
| Various | Mashwa, maswallo, mazuko, isano |
Yacón[edit | edit source]
Ulluco[edit | edit source]
Ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus)
| Country | Name/Nickname |
|---|---|
| Peru | Lisa, papa lisa, |
| Colombia | Ulluco, chigua, chugua, ruba, melloco, olluco, camarones de tierra (ground shrimp) |
| Venezuela | Rubia, ruba, mucuchi |
| Ecuador | Melloco |
| Argentina | Ulluma, olloco, ulluca |
| Bolivia | Ulluco, papa lisa |
| Culture | Name/Nickname |
| Aymara | Ulluma, ulluco, ullucu |
| Quechua | Ollucu, ulluco (Peru), ulluku (Peru), oca quina |