Fascinating stories of the foods and plants Native Americans introduced to the world We know the Irish potato, French fries, and German potato salad, but actually the potato originated in the New World, in the mountains of South America. Potatoes, as well as tomatoes, corn, beans, chili peppers, peanuts, and squash, were all unknown in Europe, Asia, and Africa before Columbus happened on the New World. This fascinating history of the foods of the Americas tells the ways each plant was used by Native Americans, and how they each made their way to Europe. It tells also how some foods became popular staples in various countries around the world.