Limited Supply of Makah Ozette Potatoes Available for Spring 2021
Last month, we learned all 2,000 pounds of our Makah Ozette seed potato crop for this year’s distribution was destroyed by grasshoppers. Although we were not able to secure additional certified seed potatoes, we, and a group of local farmers, purchased a limited supply of organic Makah Ozette potatoes that can be replanted this year. Although the method of planting a potato and seed potato is the same, the results and risks differ slightly, and it’s important to understand those differences before placing your order.
What are seed potatoes?
Seed potatoes look like, well, potatoes! They are disease-free, genetic clones propagated from a mother plant in a certified seed lab. Here is the process in a nutshell:
Cuttings are taken from the mother plant to produce plantlets.
Plantlets are grown in a greenhouse to produce mini-tubers (the new name for pre-nuclear seed).
Mini-tubers are planted in the field by certified seed growers to grow nuclear seed, also known in Washington state as Generation 1 (G1). Slow Food Seattle usually distributes this G1 seed potato, which gardeners and farmers can grow to eat and/or replant.
Each consecutive year the seed is replanted, the generation number increases — G2, G3, etc. — which indicates “how many field generations a seed lot is removed from the pathogen-tested parental stock.”
With each generation, the possibility of disease increases and the crop yield decreases. According to sources, most farmers don’t usually replant potatoes after the fourth or fifth generation, which is why we rely on the important work of certified seed labs and organic seed growers.
This year, we are offering potatoes
The potatoes we have to offer this year are not certified seed, but are actually potatoes saved from last year. Commercially grown “eating” potatoes are treated with a sprout-inhibitor that prevents eyes from developing in storage. When you shop local and from smaller growers, this step is mostly omitted. You might notice that potatoes from the farmers market often don’t last as long as those purchased at a large retail grocer.
These potatoes were grown in the PNW by two growers and are technically “eating” potatoes because they 1) were not grown by a seed grower and 2) they have not been certified disease-free. They can be planted just as you would a seed potato.
If you are interested in purchasing a small quantity of these potatoes, we are offering them at $3/pound. There are approximately 9-11 potatoes per pound. In an effort to make the potatoes available to as many people as possible, we are kindly asking everyone to request only what they need and limiting orders to a maximum of 10 pounds per person or organization.
PICK-UP ORDERS
Select Makah Ozette Potatoes-Pick Up and choose between 1-10 pounds. Orders will be ready to pick up late March / early April 2021. Fill out the included form, and we will contact you with the details to pick up your order in Carnation, Washington.
SHIPPED ORDERS. Will be shipped late March / early April 2021.
1-lb Makah Ozette Potatoes-Shipped. $11 (includes $8 shipping)
3-lb. Makah Ozette Potatoes-Shipped. $25 (includes $16 shipping)
5-lb Makah Ozette Potatoes-Shipped. $31 (includes $16 shipping)
10-lb Makah Ozette Potatoes-Shipped. $52 (includes $22 shipping)
To place an order, please email us at info@slowfoodseattle.org with your request. Please state the number of pounds and if you’d like to pick them up in Carnation, WA or have us ship them to you. Requests will be honored on a first-come-first-served basis. We will then email you an invoice with payment information. We are an all-volunteer board and truly appreciate your patience.
All proceeds from the sale of these potatoes will fund our potato donations to local Indigenous community gardens and food programs. We thank you for your support!
Join Our Seed Exchange Group on Facebook
Join our seed exchange group on Facebook to connect with other Makah Ozette enthusiasts and growers to exchange information, tips and seed: https://www.facebook.com/groups/400875610993000