02/03/06 New potato to get taste test

At the 2006 Washington State Potato Conference next week the public will get a chance to taste and evaluate a new potato variety. The Tri-State Variety development program came up with the unnamed potato and the taste test will come next Wednesday during the Potato Bar. Kathy Bonaudi is with the Washington State Potato Commission. BONAUDI "It's been in the works for ten years actually and it hasn't been released yet so that means that it still has a name that's letters and numbers. A95109-1 is still undergoing testing to determine if it has a place in the potato world. It's a cross of two varieties, Summit Russet and Blazer Russet. It's said to have good taste and appearance; it produces a high US No. 1 yields, can be grown for an early or late harvest and the fresh market may provide the best fit for it. A95109-1 testing over the past 3 years indicates its yields are economically superior to many standard varieties like Norkotah and Russet Burbank. A pilot study last year indicated that it can be grown profitably with half of the in-season nitrogen required for Russet Burbank. One other thing. A Moses Lake newspaper is sponsoring a contest to name that spud. A95109-1 just doesn't cut it. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott