September 28, 2015 at 4:54 p.m.
A night on the farm: Northwoods residents pick potatoes to fight hunger
A night on the farm: Northwoods residents pick potatoes to fight hunger
By Kayla Thomason-
Approximately 100 people dug up potatoes to give to area food pantries while learning about the potato industry in the Rhinelander area.
Those in attendance were able to experience The Wisconsin Spudmobile, a mobile educational and informational resource center. Those who entered the vehicle found interactive screens that allowed them to learn about a wide variety of potatoes as well as recipes for each type.
"This year we decided to involve the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association by having the Spudmobile come," said Becky Eddy, associate researcher with the research station. "We wanted it to be a bigger more interactive event for families and not only benefit the community but also give them a little background about what we do here at the university as well as inform them about the Wisconsin potato and how the potato is an important crop for Wisconsin."
Participants also learned about the potato research taking place in their own backyard.
Jeffrey Endelman, assistant professor in the department of horticulture at the University of Wisconsin, gave a little insight into the world of potatoes.
He said scientists in his department breed potatoes that are used for chips, French fries and baking potatoes.
They also grow and develop red-skinned, yellow-skin/ yellow-fleshed, long and finger-length potatoes, purple potatoes and other varities.
"If it's a potato which is primarily sold directly to a consumer - which would be mostly the colored kinds of potatoes - appearance is really one of the most important things because people (make their selections) based on the appearance of the potatoes," he said.
"Once we have an appearance that we like then we look at how do the potatoes grow?" he added. "Do they produce potatoes that have the right size and the right yield? Do they mature at the right time? Do they have the disease-resistant properties that we are looking for? So those are some characteristics that are more for the fresh market."
Potatoes destined for chips or fries have a different amount of starch and unique textural properties.
Approximately 100 people turned out on the cool, overcast day to pluck potatoes from the soil to give to the food pantry - and keep a few for themselves.
"I'm just amazed at the turnout and it's great to be a part of this community and see what it's like for the Rhinelander area to support the research here," Endelman said.
He wasn't the only one impressed with the turnout, Guy Hansen, executive director of the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry, was as well.
"I think it's a very good turnout, I'm very pleased," Hansen said. "People were here at least a half hour ahead of time in order to pick potatoes and things are rolling here. We had a good crew and there will be more people coming."
"I just think it's really cool that there's a couple hundred people or more that are out here volunteering their time on a pretty nice fall day and I think it says a lot about the community," said Dave Daniels, a first-time attendee.
The field didn't contain your every day supermarket potato varieties, some were types people had never seen before in luding the purple potatoes.
Some of the purple potatoes were purple on the outside with pink insides while others were purple on the inside.
"It's just a great event and it benefits the pantry and people can take a few potatoes home. One of the things is they're interesting potatoes, it's not like the potatoes you buy in the store," Hansen said.
Daniels said he was going to take a few purple potatoes home to try, but he was most pleased that the potatoes are going to those who need them most.
"There's tons of (potatoes) here that go to local food pantries and local kitchens and things like that and I think it's a perfect use for a public resource," Daniels said.
Roger Radulovich loved the "on the farm" experience and
"Outstanding program, the whole state should be doing this," he said. "They should be picking corn, peas, beans, potatoes, carrots. It's great to see the community out here and helping out, it's for a great cause."
Adults weren't the only ones having fun in the dirt, children were right alongside them collecting potatoes.
Stevie Henk and her daughter Charlee Miesbauer, 3 1/2, attended the event for the first time.
"So far it's fun, (Charlee's) loving it," Henk said.
Henk said Charlee is an experienced garden helper.
"I think (the event is) great, anything to help," Henk added.
Collected potatoes were put into seven pallet boxes, which equals about seven tons of potatoes. The potatoes will go to area food pantries and some will be put into storage.
Attendees could also donate non-perishable food items.
The University of Wisconsin's Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station and the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), as well as area food pantries, made the event possible.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@ rivernewsonline.com.
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