08/10/07 Greehouses, racers and potatoes

Farm and Ranch August 10, 2007 What could greenhouses and racing have in common? They are both ways the Washington State Potato Commission can reach young people and students with its public education efforts. Commission assistant executive director Karen Bonaudi says reaching out to young students in particular is a good way to get to the whole community. Bonaudi: "When you work with them in the schools like our greenhouse program, where we give away five greenhouses elementary schools, we not only reach the students and the teachers and the parents but the whole community gets involved and really supports the school that wins the greenhouse." That then gives the commission the opportunity to distribute information about nutrition as well as environmental and economic messages about potatoes. Bonaudi: "We are really well loved on the Westside now because of that program." The Washington Potato Commission also recently sponsored a spud speedway at an event called Kirkland Uncorked, which drew over 45-hundred people. Bonaudi: "What we did was sponsor the family area, where children and their parents, especially the parents, got to make little racing cars out of potatoes." Besides cheering on the racers, the Potato Commission mascots distributed Kids are Cooking Potatoes recipe booklets and other goodies. 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.