06 Nov The Incredible, Edible, Long Island Potato
Long Island is famous for many things including Billy Joel, The Hamptons and The Big Duck. It was the starting point of Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight and the setting of The Great Gatsby. Did you know that Long Island is also famous for your favorite edible tuber, the potato?
Potato farming started on Long Island back in the 1800’s. In the 1940’s, at its spud-growing peak, there were 40,000 acres designated to potato farming. Today a small number of dedicated potato farms remain but Long Island’s love affair with the potato continues in a variety of authentically local ways.
Kujawski & Sons Potato Farm
The largest potato farm remaining on Long Island today is John Kujawski & Sons, with 350 acres in Jamesport on the North Fork. In 2010, the farm celebrated their 50th harvest. Their round white potatoes are sold in Virginia, The Carolinas and in Florida.
North Fork Potato Chips
North Fork Potato Chips is one of a handful of potato farmers who make their own chips. The farm is run by the husband and wife team of Martin and Carol Sidor. Martin focuses on the farming and Carol on the production of the potato chips. Their line of chips consists of seven flavors Original, Barbeque, Salt & Vinegar, Sweet Potato, Cheddar & Onion, Sour Cream & Onion and Rosemary & Garlic. They strategized to produce a potato chip that was unique and would appeal to health conscious consumers by using real sunflower oil.
LiV: Long Island Vodka
If you’re a regular reader you know how we feel about wine and spirits. Potatoes have you covered there too.
Long Island Spirits was founded in 2007 as the first craft distillery since the 1800’s located on Long Island in Baiting Hollow. The distillery is home of LiV Vodka and is uniquely a farm-to-bottle hand craft distiller operation. LiV is an artisan distilled potato vodka, using traditional small batch pot and column distillation. Each batch is distilled three times and proofed with water sourced from an aquifer beneath the 100,000-acre Pine Barrens Forest Preserve.
LiV is uniquely crafted using 100% sustainably and locally farmed marcy russet potatoes from Long Island. This is a smaller varietal potato about 2 inches in diameter, that contributes more skin to fruit, adding to the vodka’s richness of flavor and viscosity. LiV is a naturally gluten free spirit of exceptional quality.
Long Island Potato Festival
This past August, Long Islanders gathered in Calverton for the 2nd Annual Long Island Potato Festival to celebrate the renowned spuds. Among the varied activities the fun-filled day featured, a Great Potato Peeling Race, Potato Sack Races and Mashed Potato Sculpting and Mashed Potato Eating Contests. Making a guest appearance was everyone’s favorite celebrity. Mr. Potato Head.
So the next time you are about to share a meal with your friends and family pass the side of taters. Happy Eating!