The potato was first domesticated in the region of modern-day southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia between 8000 and 5000 BC. It has since spread around the world and become a staple crop in many countries. Following rice, wheat and maize, the potato is the 4th largest food crop in the world. Botanically speaking, potatoes are classified as a vegetable, however, in terms of nutrition, they are classified as starchy food.