Confluence Literary Festival

Last weekend at the Farmers Market I helped at the Creekside Organics produce stand, selling tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, green beans, and all sorts of other goodies. Our booth was right next to the Sol Food booth, and in the moments between customers I had a chance to catch up with Sol Food mastermind Chris Conrad. His potatoes sure looked good, and when I pressed Chris for information, discovered that organically grown potatoes are the foundation to Sol Foods success in 2009.

Sol Food was founded with the mission to provide sustainable, locally-grown food for all. Although many crops are grown at the farm, potatoes are the main crop, and they are experimenting with 10 different varieties in various soil conditions. Weve got red, blue, and yellow potatoes as well as varieties within each color. Some are short season (90 days), others range from mid-season to long-season (160 days). This means that if all the potatoes do well, a continual harvest is possible.

So far, Sol Food has had great success with the potatoes. CSA shareholders and farmers market shoppers alike are enjoying the variety offered by the farm. Potatoes are a crop best adapted to a moderate climate, and tend to be susceptible to a plethora of diseases. Im excited that Chris and his crew are working on farming this important crop organically, as potatoes are a staple food in most households. We can look forward to fingerling potatoes this fall, since Sol Food planted a crop at the beginning of July. This Saturday, be sure to stop by Swanny City Park and browse the bounty at Sol Food, Creekside Organics, YGP and all the other booths. The farmers market opens at 8:00 and closes at noon, and there will be activities for the whole family. See you there!