The crop of root and tuber fruits is under the soil. This makes harvesting the crops very laborious. The potato, still a staple food, originated in South America and came to Europe in the 16th century. Through selection of the Silesian white beet, the sugar beet was developed in the middle of the 18th century and is of great importance as a supplier of sugar. Today, the fodder beet is less important as cattle feed. So-called energy beet is grown as biomass in biogas plants for energy production.