Potatoes, which are now such a staple in the American diet, were once feared in France, of all places. (Think of French Fries!) It seems that French farmers believed an old wives tale that potatoes caused leprosy.

One French farmer thought the potato would actually be a boon to French farmers. He used his best efforts to try to convince his fellow countrymen to no avail.

Benjamin Franklin, besides being an inventor, printer, and scientist, was an amateur agriculturist. He came to the rescue. He was a diplomat to France and was an honored guest at many a French dinner. Franklin came to one event where this particular French farmer had cooked up a meal with many different potato dishes. Indeed, every course of the meal had been made with pureed or otherwise prepared tuber dishes!

Ben Franklin knew this and he especially favored and raved about the bread which had been made with ground flour produced from potatoes. Franklin also complimented the host on the drink he toasted with, which was made from fermented potatoes. It was drinkable and not unlike vodka.

News of this event and Franklin’s praise of the fine repast, swept the whole country, and soon farmers began stealing potatoes from experimental fields harboring the previously much maligned potato. Potatoes soon became a Parisian fixation.

Score another victory for Benjamin Franklin!