Northwest History. Alaska 7. Agriculture, United States

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1936
• Subjects: Fairbanks; Alaska; University of Alaska extension service; potatoes grown; Matanuska valley; Anchorage; Tanana river valley; Lorin T. Oldroyd; Yakima valley of Washington; fertile volcano ash soils; Idaho; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Pacific; midnight sun
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/88233

Alaska Spuds Don't 'Go Over.' ALASKA SPUDS DON'T'GO OVER' FAIRBANKS. Alaska, Oct. 13. (JP)—Growers of Alaska potatoes through the University of Alaska extension service, have started an educational campaign to convince housewives of the territory that potatoes grown beneath the midnight sun deserve better treatment. Fields in the Matanuska valley near Anchorage, the Tanana river valley at Fairbanks and elsewhere in the territory produced 10 tons of No. 1 potatoes to the acre, said Lorin T. Oldroyd. director of extension for the university. "This would amount, to 333 bushels an acre, which is far above the yield in the famous Yakima valley of Washington or the fertile volcano ash soils of Idaho," Oldroyd reported. "Alaska potatoes, properly prepared, please the palates of particular people." Baked or French fried, the Alaska tuber was unsurpassed, he declared, and added that the objection they were slightly "watery when boiled" was mostly imagination. "Outside" potatoes from Yakima or Idaho retail at from 10 to 12 cents a pound, Oldroyd pointed out, while Alaska grown sell at four to five cents a pound. "Give Alaska 'spuds'' a fair trial," he concluded, "and you will like them."