Potato stories? Got one right here:
I'm reminded of this 1998 article by Michael Pollan. Assertions were made that Idaho potato farmers wouldn't actually eat the commercial potato crops in their own fields, preferring non-GMO organic varieties:
Playing God in the Garden
Michael Pollan
The New York Times Magazine, October 25, 1998
https://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/playing-god-in-the-garden/
Today I planted something new in my vegetable garden — something very new, as a matter of fact. It’s a potato called the New Leaf Superior, which has been genetically engineered — by Monsanto, the chemical giant recently turned ”life sciences” giant — to produce its own insecticide.
Any Colorado potato beetle that takes so much as a nibble of my New Leafs will supposedly keel over and die, its digestive tract pulped, in effect, by the bacterial toxin manufactured in the leaves...
You’re probably wondering if I plan to eat these potatoes, or serve them to my family...
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However, this criticism has since been DEBUNKED (!) by the Idaho Potato Commission and Dr. Potato, which have no interest in ALARMING (!) consumers:
Established in 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is a state agency that is responsible for promoting and protecting the famous "Grown in Idaho®" seal, a federally registered trademark that assures consumers they are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho® potatoes.
Ask Dr. Potato:
Do Potato Farmers Have Separate Fields for Their Personal Consumption?
https://idahopotato.com/dr-potato/do-potato-farmers-have-separate-fields-for-their-personal-consumption
Q:
We buy really nice Idaho potatoes at our local Costco and we love them. Recently I have been hearing that potato farmers have separate fields for their personal consumption because they don't like all the chemicals and pesticides used on the potatoes sent to market. Is this true?
