How This King Tricked People Into Eating Potatoes

Rory Sutherland tells how this king tricked the peasants into eating potatoes which was considered disgusting at the time.

In the 18th century, King Frederick the Great of Prussia faced a challenge: how to get his subjects to adopt the potato as a staple food. Potatoes, new to Europe, were met with suspicion by the Prussian peasantry. Recognizing the potato's potential to provide a reliable food source during times of famine, Frederick devised a clever strategy to overcome the peasants' resistance.

Despite their nutritional benefits, potatoes were initially viewed with skepticism. They were considered food for animals and even thought to be poisonous by some. The peasants, accustomed to their traditional crops like wheat and barley, were reluctant to change their agricultural practices. Frederick knew that simply mandating the cultivation and consumption of potatoes would not work. Instead, he employed reverse psychology.

He ordered that potatoes be planted in the royal fields and then stationed guards around these fields, giving the impression that the crop was highly valuable and worth protecting. However, the guards had secret instructions to be somewhat lax in their duties, allowing the peasants to "steal" the potatoes. The sight of a guarded crop piqued the curiosity and interest of the peasants, leading them to believe that potatoes must indeed be a valuable and desirable food.

As Frederick had anticipated, the peasants began to steal the potatoes from the guarded fields and plant them in their own plots. Over time, they discovered that potatoes were not only safe to eat but also versatile and filling. The royal endorsement and the perceived value of the guarded potatoes changed public perception, and the potato gradually became a staple food in Prussia.

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[mowgli]

Not only did he tell the guards not to guard it very well, but he gave them permission to accept bribes for people to steal the potatoes

[timr]

The reason he wanted them to eat potatoes was so there would be more wheat for his soldiers.

[kaibroeking]

The same tactics, guarding a potato field with not very vigilant military guards, was used in France by Antoine Augustin Parmentier who had been fed on potatos as a prisoner of war in Prussia and who popularized the potato in France.

[JohnSmith-sy]

Was a reason that he was a King. Understanding that all people are stupid. Doesn't matter where they come from.

[TheBitingBat]

This is literally why government regulation fails, the moment you tell people you can't have something they want it

[LordEvilmancer]

I love how we are so opposed to the idea of giving poor people anything, that we had to rationalize this as legally ignored theft

[landerceuppens]

The only marketing in this is the fact that he passes this story of as true, and so uses this to whatever point he's trying to make

[JacoDeltaco]

Frederik was one of the rare good king

[RobBlokdijk-hmi]

King Louis and marie Antoinette pushed the use of the potato but the French did not like it. Because they wanted bread !!!!After that the grain crops faild a few times and famin was the the rage. Revolution was fun for the agitators.

[Elena-]

In a very similar way it was introduced in Greece!

[atariboy]

King: You going to eat this potato.
Folks: We won't eat your potato.
King: You will!
Folks: We won't!
King: You will!
Folks: We won't!
King: You won't!
Folks: We will!
King: You won't!
Folks: We will! And you can't stop us from eatting YOUR POTATO!

[cisium]

I think it was Earl Scruggs who said, "if you want your son to play a musical instrument, put it in your front room and tell him not to touch it."

[camilo]

King: Here have this
People: Eww
King: Ok you can’t have it
People: 😡

[ZakEmerald]

King: Here food!
Peasants: GROSS NO WAY!
King: Ok only I am worthy of this
Peasants: wait a damn minute

[clauvex]

So basically put a "Supreme" tag on it.

[tauridborn]

Reverse psychology on a national scale

[mattisbette]

I often hear this story and the reason people give for why Germans didn't like potatoes at first is that they don't look nice. But the actual reason was that those who did try ate them wrong. So they ate the greens as well making them sick. So many said I'm not going to plant that again.

[KoOkiEzRoCkz]

I’m just imagining Frederick snickering to himself seeing a peasant very poorly trying to hide a sack of potatoes in their pants.

[ZpZpr]

Anything worth guarding, is worth stealing. Funny quote.

[twiceremoved]

It's insane because potatoes are an S-tier vegetable.