First Potatoes...

First Potatoes…

Potatoes are one of my favorite crops to grow, and probably had something to do with my decision to start farming. When I joined the Peace Corps in Western Samoa (South Pacific 1985-1988), I worked with farmers used to growing upland-taro to try to plant and experiment with different varieties of potatoes.

We successfully selected a few varieties that grew well, especially in fields at higher elevations where temperatures tended to be cooler. Many of the farmers were excited to sell them at local markets, where they sold as a specialty at a good price. Potatoes are native to the Andean mountains of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, where several thousand varieties have been identified.

Current potato field pictured at the end of April.

Today potatoes are grown worldwide, cultivated everywhere from below sea level to 14,000 feet above. You may find it interesting that potatoes belong to the Nightshade family, same as your favorite tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Potatoes were once considered the poor man’s crop, and where often grown to protect against famine during times of war and grain crop failures. In some countries, such as Ireland, dependence on the potato grew until 1845, when the famous potato blight (Phytophtora Infestans) wiped out most of the crop and catalyzed a severe famine and massive immigration of Irish to the United States.

Here’s the field starting to be harvested this week.

Nutritionally, potatoes are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates and minerals, particularly potassium, provided the skin is consumed.

We are starting to harvest the earlier maturing Colorado Rose potatoes for our CSA shares this week. The tops are still green, but the tubers have sized up enough to start digging them. Over the next few months you will receive different varieties, both white and yellow fleshed, including Yellow Finn, Yukon Gold, and Fingerlings. Enjoy!