Potato (scientific name: Solanum tuberosum) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Solanaceae family, and its tubers are edible. It is the fourth most important food crop in the world, following rice, maize, and wheat. Potatoes are native to the Andes mountains in Peru and Bolivia. The cultivation of potatoes dates back to approximately 8000 to 5000 BC in the southern regions of Peru. During the Age of Exploration, potatoes were shipped back to the Eurasian continent, and they have since become a staple food in many countries in Europe and America, making them the fourth largest staple crop worldwide.