white potatoes making up for 80% of vegetable consumption in the America

[laundry_queen]

16. Also, potatoes keep for longer

I can't tell you how many times I've bought some veggies and had a specific dinner planned when something comes up a day or 2 later and on day 3 or 4, that vegetable had to be thrown out (well, we compost, but it's still throwing it out).

I've started to concentrate on buying vegetables that have a longer shelf life, like cabbage instead of lettuce, or carrots instead of fresh beans (still buy frozen though). I can see how people would prefer potatoes.

I think it's important to note that a lot of junk food is created from potatoes - like potato chips and french fries. That's why it's the most widely eaten vegetable. If they figured out how to do that with other vegetables and made them taste as good, that vegetable would also be as widely eaten. If it was a comparable price that is.

You are right, vegetables have really gone up in price. So has anything remotely healthy. Fruit is ridiculous. It's cheaper by far to buy prepackaged pudding or cookies than to buy apples for my kids' lunches. I still do, but geez. Things that used to be basics - apples in lunches - are becoming priced out of reach for a lot of families.