Potatoes--best places to buy or best potatoe farms to visit? (Idaho Falls: buying, organic)

[DreamworksSKG]

Anyone know the best places in Idaho to buy potatoes, and the best farms to visit to see a working idaho potato farm? (Fahm)
We dont pronounce ah r's!

I'm from Boston.

'jeff
Winchester, MA

[twinprism]

Blackfoot is the self described "Potato captial of the world", and there is a World Potato Expo museum there.

I grew up on a potato farm in that area, but my father has recently retired from farming and is out of the country, so I can't show you our farm, but I could put you in touch with someone who could. What time of the year would you like to visit? There's the most to see in mid-September through October at Harvest time, so sometime between planting in April and early October is best.

As far as buying potatoes, either digging "new" potatoes on the farms starting in mid-July which are really sweet and tasty, or getting them from fresh pack sheds like Wada Farms or Nonpareil in Blackfoot around harvest time when they are fresh is probably your best bet, but they keep well and you can buy them at pretty much any supermarket. A lot of potatoes from here ship to the east coast, so you could probably buy the same thing there. Something nice about getting them from the ground or the cellar with dirt still on them though.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Like Twinprism, I also grew up on a potato farm. It would indeed help to know when you would like to obtain the potatoes, the size and the purpose.

When I say the purpose, some don't realize that potatoes are graded on a scale and what a "baked potato" in NYC would be, is a very precise size. Conversely, what others may want for a big pan of hash browns doesn't require an exact size.

Since potatoes are usually planted by mid-May and harvested by mid-Oct., from July on different sizes can be freshly dug. Also, it depends on where you are in the state. Along with the Blackfoot resources, the new organic food market in Idaho Falls should carry fresh potatoes plus numerous farms.

It really depends on your purpose, how many would be present (potato harvesting equipment is dangerous and not appropriate for children), if you plan to go to a farm and your timing.

BTW - no two potato farms are the same. What may seem simple is actually quite complex. Progressive farmers go to continuing edu and on-going courses to learn better production of potatoes. Others do things the same way they have for decades.

However you receive them, I hope you find the perfect taters for you!

MSR

[silver_onion]

I grew up in Blackfoot, not so long ago. I didn't live on a farm, but had my fair share of involvement. Farming is one thing, and processing is another. While you're in the area, check out a potato processing plant. Nonpareil, Wada farms, and Basic American, to name a few. If you call ahead, they often times give tours. You can see how they blow the skins off and even more interesting, how they make potato flakes. If you are in the area around September, there is Spud Days in Shelly. Don't forget to stop by the potato expo: Idaho Potato Expo Main Page- The Idaho Potato Expo, located in Blackfoot, Idaho, is an expo dedicated to the history and current information regarding the potato.