Organic Potato Variety Trial in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Project Overview

FNC13-941
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2013: $2,245.77
Projected End Date: 12/31/2015
Region: North Central
State: Michigan
Project Coordinator:
Michael Wixtrom
Wixtrom Natural Farms

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Agronomic: potatoes

Practices

  • Crop Production: food product quality/safety
  • Education and Training: extension, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research
  • Pest Management: physical control
  • Production Systems: organic agriculture
  • Soil Management: nutrient mineralization, organic matter

    Summary:

    Final report on Organic Potato variety trials

    This is the final report for our Organic potato variety trials.  It centers on post-harvest work and follows the potatoes right thru the store and into the consumer’s hands.

    Introduction:

    Organic Potato variety trials taste testing results

    In this report, we will show the results of the taste testing that we did in cooperation with the Marquette Food Coop, in Marquette, Michigan, where they were marketed.

    Project objectives:

    Why a taste testing trial?

    Unlike most commercial farm experiments that only center around field conditions, yield, and the bottom line, with little regard for the health of the consumer, our trials included a taste testing with the general public.  It is the culmination of the project, as we feel that if the consumer does not like what is put on the store shelves, farmers should change and grow what people like.  This trial data was used to determine what consumers like, which we in turn will use to determine what to plant in the future.  
     
    The results were a pleasant surprise for the Organic Industry.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.