MOSCOW, July 23 (RIA Novosti) - Over 450 kilograms of chips were eaten at the potato festival in Moscow's Gorky Park Saturday, the organizers said.
July 23 was chosen to hold the festival because 240 years ago Empress Catherine the Great ordered to promote the spread of potatoes throughout Russia. After that, the Senate issued instructions for potato cultivation and use.
Thousands of Muscovites and guests of the capital, who gathered in the park Saturday, learned that Peru gave potatoes to the world and that Emperor Peter the Great was the first to bring potatoes from Rotterdam to Russia. They also learned that 4 kilograms of potatoes are needed to produce 1 kilogram of chips.
The festival's program included contests and performances.
The Moscow committee for telecommunications and media said that the potato festival would be made annual and nationwide.
"Many countries hold traditional festivals of national products - cheeses, wines, tomatoes, etc. Potatoes, an important attribute of the Russian national cuisine deserve a holiday," the committee said.
