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The San Luis Valley, located in south-central Colorado, is nestled in the high arid alpine basin between the majestic San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountains. Legend has it that after the Spanish Conquistadors' quest for glory and gold, they settled in Colorado's San Luis Valley because of the healthy; rich soil. Local farmers began growing potatoes in the Valley in the late 19m century; making the San Luis Valley one of the oldest potato growing areas in me country. Potatoes were first grown in the Cache la Poudre Valley of Northern Colorado in the late 1870's. While generally grown for home consumption, potatoes began making their debut in stores in 1871. Since then, the growth of the potato in both the northern and eastern sections of Colorado has made this area a major contributor in the fresh and processed potato markets. The San Luis Valley, along with the northern and eastern growing regions of Colorado, now comprise one of the largest potato growing areas in me United States. * information supplied by the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee
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