The Potato Lady is Coming to Town

The Potato Lady is Coming to Town
by Angelle St. Pierre

If you're thinking of stuffing someone's stocking with coal this year, why not consider locally grown potatoes instead? Kristen Davenport, New Mexico garlic and potato farmer extraordinaire is now taking bulk orders for her delivery to Albuquerque on December 18th.

She has many varieties of organically grown potatoes to choose from, including russets, reds, fingerlings, and my new personal favorites - blues! The blue in these amazing "All Blue" and "Purple Majesty" potatoes is from anthocyanin, a naturally-occurring antioxidant. In fact, according to a recent study, the antioxidant levels in blue potatoes were right up there with those found in kale, spinach, and brussel sprouts. Not only that, but they retain 75% of these goodies, even after cooking. WOW. Plus they keep incredibly well when stored properly (in a cool dark place that doesn't freeze). I'm totally sold!

Kristen's farming skills go beyond spuds. She and her husband, Avrum, are owners and founders of Boxcar Farms, where they employ organic growing methods on their 20 acres of spring-irrigated land. In addition to 17+ spud varieties, they grow garlic (40 varieties on 1/2 acre), high altitude veggies (like kabocha winter squash-no tomatoes and cukes here!), fruit trees, and dairy goats. They have been in the world of food-growing now for over 10 years, but their harvest wasn't always as abundant as this year's crop. Kristen and Avrum spent 5 years in northern NM in a valley where their potatoes froze in the ground in July, and it wasn't until buying their new property in 2006 that they really began carving their niche in the local food scene.

If you'd like to learn more about Boxcar Farm, you can visit their website at www.boxcarfarm.com. To place your bulk order email Kristen at kristen@boxcarfarm.com and she will send you a detailed list of available varieties (and how they are best prepared). Cost is $1/pound and minimum order is 25 pounds, so grab a tater-lovin' friend to share them with if that's more than you can handle. But remember- if you store them properly, your local potatoes can last throughout these cold winter months, far beyond Santa's (and the potato lady's) visit!

Angelle St. Pierre writes the local blog, Local Food Gal, where you can find more of her stories.