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Potatoes!
Next to the development of our Apple Orchard, potatoes are the primary focus of our farming efforts. We started
with potatoes as our first commercial crop that we took to a farmers' market, and they will always have a special
place in our hearts! Our primary focus has been on specialty varieties and have developed a reputation for our
Blue Potatoes, to the extent that for the first year or two at market we were known almost exclusively as the
Blue Potato People!
Next to the development of our Apple Orchard, potatoes are the primary focus of our farming efforts. We started
with potatoes as our first commercial crop that we took to a farmers' market, and they will always have a special
place in our hearts! Our primary focus has been on specialty varieties and have developed a reputation for our
Blue Potatoes, to the extent that for the first year or two at market we were known almost exclusively as the
Blue Potato People!
In 2011 we expanded our operation into some leased land that
we are transitioning into organic production. The new space
combined with the improved planting and harvesting techniques
have given us the opportunity to greatly expand our potato
production. It also seemed fitting that the first crop to plant at
the new property should be potatoes. As a result this year will
be the first year that we offer both organic and
transitional/all-natural potatoes. We will also be able to offer
more varieties than we have in the past to include a few of the
more main-stream options. The transitional potatoes are grown
using the same methods, inputs and practices as our organic
varieties, they just don't meet the Organic standard of the land
being managed organically for three consecutive year.
we are transitioning into organic production. The new space
combined with the improved planting and harvesting techniques
have given us the opportunity to greatly expand our potato
production. It also seemed fitting that the first crop to plant at
the new property should be potatoes. As a result this year will
be the first year that we offer both organic and
transitional/all-natural potatoes. We will also be able to offer
more varieties than we have in the past to include a few of the
more main-stream options. The transitional potatoes are grown
using the same methods, inputs and practices as our organic
varieties, they just don't meet the Organic standard of the land
being managed organically for three consecutive year.
The first few years we planted and harvested
potatoes exclusively by hand. This is a very labor
intensive process that involves building up hilled
rows, planting the seed potato pieces one at a
time and later coming along and digging the rows
with hand tools to uncover the potatoes. Lots of
bending over and getting sweaty and dirty! In
2010 we broke down and invested in a potato
planter that works with the tractor. Now we
simply load cut potato seed into the bin,
carefully monitor the feeding mechanism, and
drive the tractor down the rows while the planter
draws up the hills and plants the seed! We also
found a nifty little tool that digs the potatoes
pretty well so all we have to do is go behind and
pick them up. Overall, a great improvement to
our productivity and our backs!
potatoes exclusively by hand. This is a very labor
intensive process that involves building up hilled
rows, planting the seed potato pieces one at a
time and later coming along and digging the rows
with hand tools to uncover the potatoes. Lots of
bending over and getting sweaty and dirty! In
2010 we broke down and invested in a potato
planter that works with the tractor. Now we
simply load cut potato seed into the bin,
carefully monitor the feeding mechanism, and
drive the tractor down the rows while the planter
draws up the hills and plants the seed! We also
found a nifty little tool that digs the potatoes
pretty well so all we have to do is go behind and
pick them up. Overall, a great improvement to
our productivity and our backs!
2011 Potato variety list:
Organic
Adirondac Blue - All blue general purpose potato
Adirondac Red - All red boiling potato
Caribe' - early purple skinned. Best mashed potato!
Green Mountain - Late season heirloom baker
Rose Finn Apple Fingerling
Transitional
Adirondac Blue
Kerr's Pink - First year, will let you know!
Purple Viking - Tie=Died purple and pink boiling potato
Sangre - Early season red skinned "new" potato
Yukon Gold - the most requested potato we have never
grown!
Organic
Adirondac Blue - All blue general purpose potato
Adirondac Red - All red boiling potato
Caribe' - early purple skinned. Best mashed potato!
Green Mountain - Late season heirloom baker
Rose Finn Apple Fingerling
Transitional
Adirondac Blue
Kerr's Pink - First year, will let you know!
Purple Viking - Tie=Died purple and pink boiling potato
Sangre - Early season red skinned "new" potato
Yukon Gold - the most requested potato we have never
grown!
