September 26, 2017 at 8:29 a.m.
Mud and spuds: Community supports food pantries by picking potatoes
Mud and spuds: Community supports food pantries by picking potatoes
By Kayla Thomason-
The event, hosted by the UW-Madison Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), and Trig's, drew a large crowd.
Those who came grabbed buckets, meandered their way around puddles and plucked freshly upturned potatoes in the wake of the harvester. Attendees also learned more about the root vegetable in the Spudmobile - an educational and informational display in a bus.
Becky Eddy, Superintendent of the Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station, was pleased with the turnout.
"We were leary about the turnout with the rain that had arrived at about noon and the high winds that had taken down a lot of our tents, but so far quite a few people have turned out," she said.
People picked all market varieties of potatoes, including blues and adirondack reds.
"We have a little bit of all the market categories out there," Eddy said.
Over the past few years the pickers have averaged 8 tons of potatoes, but this year Eddy was anticipating between 8 to 10 tons.
Besides picking potatoes, children got to select a pumpkin and there were also baked potatoes, parsley potatoes, taco soup, Simon and Garfunkel potatoes, and garlic potatoes all fresh-picked and prepared by the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry. Apples and caramel apples were provided by Trig's.
"Every year we are trying to make it a little bigger and better, just bring families out to not only support the fight for local hunger but to enjoy with family and friends the outdoors," Eddy said.
While the event helps the pantries, it also informs the public about what the UW-Madison Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station does, and how potatoes make their way from the field to the table.
"I think this event brings people out, I think it's a good opportunity to let people know where their food comes from, how it's grown, how it's processed," she said, adding that Wisconsin is No. 3 in potato production in the U.S.
Guy Hansen, executive director of the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry (RAFP), was pleased to see so many people picking tubers.
"The turnout is excellent, especially since the weather was pretty nasty about 1 o'clock," he said.
Hansen thinks the farm day is a great event not only because it benefits the pantry but because it brings more awareness to UW-Madison Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station.
"I think it's a great idea, it's a great way to let people know that there is some (agriculture) research going on just east of Rhinelander here," he said.
He is grateful that the research station hosts the event and stores the potatoes until the pantry needs them.
JoAnn Fiene, a second-time participant, wasn't phased by the wet dirt.
"It is what it is, I'm glad the sun came out and we were able to do it," she said.
She also the Spudmobile and found it very informative.
Mya Renn, a young first-time potato picker, thought the event was "awesome." Her favorite part of the event was "picking potatoes" and she liked playing in the mud.
Jeremy Baker enjoyed coming back for his second year.
"It's awesome, it's a good way to give back to the community and learn more about our heritage," he said of the event, adding that "it's a great way to interact with the community and be part of the community and give back to the community."
Picking potatoes runs in Baker's blood, as his grandfather was a potato farmer, so it was a nice way to get back to his root, he said.
He said he hopes more people will attend the event next year.
"I encourage people to come out and help the community," he said. "The food pantry is a very important part of social giving to the community and it's a great way to understand too where food comes from, especially for young kids."
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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