Potato growers serve up spuds in Olympia

Washington Ag Today February 4, 2011 This past Tuesday was Potato Day in Olympia. As Karen Bonaudi, Assistant Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission explains, part of the annual event is the Potato Bar at the state Capitol for lawmakers and staff.

Bonaudi: “We give away baked potatoes, Washington bakes potatoes in the Rotunda. About 16-hundred of them with all the fixings and all the toppings. We understand it is the most popular day in Olympia, Potato Day, because they all line up and come over and get their baked potatoes. I think we set a record this year as well for speed at the Potato Bar because we serviced the bulk of the crowd within 45 minutes.”

Bonaudi says the turnout by commissioners and growers for Potato Day was also a record. And in addition to feeding the folks at the Capitol Bonaudi says commissioners and growers do some educating too.

Bonaudi: “We also take the opportunity to visit with legislators from the potato growing districts and inform them of the important issues that we have this year so that they are aware of them when they come up before them. Whether it is water issues or chemical applications, that kind of thing.”

That’s Washington Ag Today. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I’m Bob Hoff on Northwest Aginfo Net.