In the Stats for Stories section of the US Census page, I discovered today is National Potato Chip Day. It contains statistics for NAICS 311919: Other snack food manufacturing (which includes potato chips).
In 2020, “Potatoes used for chips and shoestrings totaled 59.2 million cwt, down 1 percent from the previous year.” There are also links to potato groups, such as the National Potato Council.
Most interesting, though, was from the Lemelson-MIT Program: Historical Inventors, George Crum, Potato Chip. “Some evidence shows a man named George Crum, a cook and restaurateur was said to have come up with the idea for the tasty crisp.
“Born by the name of George Speck in 1824 in Saratoga Lake, New York, Crum was the son of an African American father and Native American mother, a member of the Huron tribe. He professionally adopted the name ‘Crum,’ as it was the name his father used in his career as a jockey. As a young man, Crum worked as a guide in the Adirondack Mountains and as an Indian trader. Eventually, he came to realize that he possessed exceptional talent in the culinary arts.
In the summer of 1853, he was working as a chef at Saratoga Springs’ elegant Moon Lake Lodge resort… Legend says Crum became agitated when a customer sent his French-fried potatoes back to the kitchen, complaining that they were cut too thickly. Crum reacted by slicing the potatoes as thin as he possibly could, frying them in grease, and sending the crunchy brown chips back out on the guest’s plate that way.
“The reaction was unexpected: The guest loved the crisps. In fact, other guests began asking for them as well, and soon Crum’s ‘Saratoga Chips’ became one of the lodge’s most popular treats.” See a one-minute video.
Oh, yeah, it’s Pi Day too
In another Stats for Stories piece: In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed “H.Res.224 – Supporting the designation of Pi Day…”
“Whereas Pi can be approximated as 3.14, and thus March 14, 2009, is an appropriate day for ’National Pi Day’: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) supports the designation of a ’Pi Day’ and its celebration around the world;
(2) recognizes the continuing importance of National Science Foundation’s math and science education programs; and
(3) encourages schools and educators to observe the day with appropriate activities that teach students about Pi and engage them about the study of mathematics.”
There are a lot of stats about STEM-related industries such as engineering and statisticians. Check out the links to short videos, events taking place TODAY, and teacher resources. Did you know Indiana Almost Made Pi Equal to 3.2? The horror!
Potato chips are wonderful, and their day should be moved. Nobody’s paying attention to potato chips on Pi Day!!!