08/25/06 A "Blazer" of a potato

A "Blazer" of a potato. This is the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. I'm Bob Hoff. Today's report next. Farm and Ranch August 25, 2006 It is said to be versatile and delicious and it's one of the newest graduates of the Northwest Potato Variety Development Program. Andy Jensen who heads up research at the Washington State Potato Commission says this spud is called Blazer. Jensen: 'Blazer Russet is a processing potato as I understand it that will potentially compete with Shepody or replace Shepody in some parts of the Pacific Northwest. Shepody is an early processing potato that is used in July and August in the Columbia Basin and similar time periods in other parts of the Northwest and Blazer is something that will be comparable to it." Jensen says in some situations Blazer may be a better potato than Shepody. Potato growers and processors in western states worked with Agricultural Research Service potato breeders and their Washington State, University of Idaho and Oregon State University colleagues to put the tuber through nearly two decades of rigorous lab, field and test-kitchen scrutiny before the decision was made in December of 2005 to make the experimental potato a named variety. Until that time Blazer Russet was known simply by its breeder number A8893-1. ARS scientists Joseph Pavek and Dennis Corsini, both now retired, selected the parent potatoes for today's Blazer Russet in 1988. In tests that followed Blazer Russet typically out produced even American's potato idol, Russet Burbank. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow. I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.