They are the result of work by the late Gary Johnson of
Guelph.
Wikipedia says this:
In 1953, Johnston was one of the scientists that owned the
potato development lab at the Ontario Agriculture College at the University of
Guelph.
In 1959 one of Johnston’s
graduate students, a young man originally from Peru, told him of a small,
rough, deep yellowed flesh potato that was grown by the indigenous communities
in his home country.
In Lima this potato variety is considered a delicacy due
to its bright color and distinct flavour.
After trying these Peruvian potatoes, Johnston started thinking
about creating a variety that would have the same colour and flavor
characteristics as these potatoes but would be larger in size and have a
smoother shape similar to the potatoes being grown in the “Banana Belt”
(Southwestern Ontario).
In 1966 the development team made their first cross between a
W5289-4 (2x cross between Yema de huevo and 2x Katahdin) and a Norgleam potato
native to North Dakota. After the 66th cross that year, true seed was produced
and the G6666 was created.
