Which crop was domesticated in the Andean highlands?

• A. Maize
• B. Beans
• C. Potatoes
• D. Rice

Answer: (C)

Crops get their domestication stories from the places where people first cultivated them, and the Andean highlands are famous for potatoes. Potatoes originated in the central Andes and were domesticated there by ancient Andean communities thousands of years ago. Their tubers store well, tolerate cold nights, and do well on high-altitude terraces, which made them a reliable staple in environments where other crops struggle. Over time, many varieties developed, and the potato became central to Andean civilizations such as the Inca, with traditional practices like drying potatoes into chuño helping preserve food through seasons. Maize was domesticated in Mesoamerica, rice in Asia, and beans—though cultivated in the Americas and grown in the Andes as well—are not the hallmark crop that defines Andean highland agriculture.