MORE POTATOES

Shirley and I were talking on email about potatoes recently. We talked about a man who grew up in Sabin, MN and now had 100,000 acres in potatoes in several states. He sells his potatoes for French fries. That means he has big potatoes!

Old Trunks remembered reading something about when a group of farmers got together to talk about growing spuds back in 1908. The Rosewood News announced an emergency meeting of the potato growers in 1920; was it blight?

In 1924 Rosebank had an eight month school year with one week off for potato picking in the fall. Obviously, it was all done by hand with child labor.


Let's look at the history of the potato: After being introduced to Europe from South America, the potato continued its journey, carried by European settlers to North American colonies.


In 1613, the British sent potatoes as supplies to colonists in Bermuda. Nine years later, the Governor of Bermuda sent a shipment of potatoes to his counterpart in Virginia and potatoes completed their round-trip journey from the New World (South America) to the Old World (Europe) and back (North America).


With a huge influx of Scots-Irish settlers to Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1719, the popularity of the potato soared in the colonies. The Irish had already established the potato as a staple crop in their homeland and found that it grew well in their new settlements. The success of these early potato crops prompted other colonists to cultivate potatoes. The spread of potatoes through the American colonies was swift.


By 1720, the tide of potatoes had reached Connecticut. Fifteen years later potatoes were introduced to Rhode Island and by 1745 had become so popular in the colony that they were able to export potatoes for profit.


Even with its quick spread, Americans didn't appreciate potatoes as a delicacy as the Spanish had done. However, with Thomas Jefferson's support in 1789, the potato was better accepted. As the American Minister to France, Jefferson had gained an appreciation for French cooking and, in particular, their potato dishes. Jefferson can be given credit for introducing pomme-frites--the French word for french fries--to American cuisine.

Later, as President, he had potatoes served in various forms at White House dinners. Through this support, the potato gained popularity in North America as a fine food and a popular crop.

Gotta love that spud!

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