
National French Fry Day is an annual event celebrated on the second Friday in July, which falls on July 12 this year2. It is a day when fast food restaurants offer free and discounted fries to their customers, and people can indulge in their favorite side dish, be it crinkle-cut, curly, or steak fries6.

The average American consumes approximately 30-34 pounds of French fries per year. This figure highlights the popularity of French fries in the American diet, with potatoes and tomatoes making up nearly half of the vegetables Americans eat each year.

Thomas Jefferson is credited with introducing French fries to America. He discovered the dish while serving as a diplomat in France and brought the recipe back to the U.S. in the late 18th century. The average American now consumes around 34 pounds of French fries a year, making it the second most popular dish after hamburgers.