Potatoes

One fall, I took a job hand harvesting potatoes in Alaska.  It was one of those cash under the table, we only need you for a day situations.  What an eye opener, on so many levels.  Everyone should have to harvest food, to understand where food comes from and what is required to get it from the ground to our plate.  Another important lesson to take away from such an experience is that of physical labor, a hard day’s work. 

My father sent me to work on my grandmother’s farm in the summers.  I love food, and generally it tastes great, but nothing compares to toiling in the garden all day and stopping to snack on something growing at your fingertips.  Potatoes dug fresh from the garden and prepared for a meal that day are heaven hiding in rich dark brown soil.

Potatoes are easy to grow and even easier to eat.  There are so many types of potato out there and the recipes out compete the 600 varieties.    We are all familiar with mashed potatoes, baked potatoes and potato skins, but have you ever had potato salad made with blue potatoes?  Or French fries made with peanut potatoes?  Potatoes come in a rainbow of colors, flavors and textures.

            It is time to embrace the rainbow.  The farmers markets are back with fresh spring greens and onions, along with starts for the garden.  So, go ahead, plan a planter or a field.  Don’t forget the seed potatoes, why not start with blue potatoes this year?