Storing: Treating Potatoes? (was: Cooking Potatoes)

Subject: Treating Potatoes? (was: Cooking Potatoes)
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
From: Madeline (madwen at mailbag.spammenot.com)
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 12:45:06 -0500
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Do they spray stuff on potatoes to keep out bugs or make them keep longer?
From: A Ferszt (biotech at ic.ac.uk)
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 20:23:14 -0600
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Madwen wrote:
> Do they spray stuff on potatoes to keep out bugs or make them keep
> longer?

Usually yes...unless you buy organic potatoes.
From: Madeline (madwen at mailbag.spammenot.com)
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 14:09:40 -0500
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A Ferszt (biotech at ic.ac.uk) wrote:
> Madwen wrote:
> > Do they spray stuff on potatoes to keep out bugs or make them keep
> > longer?
> Usually yes...unless you buy organic potatoes.

What do they put on them and is it safer, then, to cook the non-organic types minus their skins?
From: A Ferszt (biotech at ic.ac.uk)
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 21:01:30 -0600
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Madwen wrote:
> What do they put on them and is it safer, then, to cook the non-organic
> types minus their skins?

I'd need to look that up. Given that potatoes are generally sprayed (pesticides/herbicides) several times up to harvesting, don't think it would make much difference after that. The act of peeling can transfer what's on the skin to the flesh anyway. Just peel them if you like and wash them after (not that much gets removed) or give them a good scrub and leave the peels on. Given the total exposure to such chemicals in most countries, it isn't going to add much more anyway.

If that bothers you, then by all means buy organically-grown produce.
From: Madeline (madwen at mailbag.spammenot.com)
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 09:46:20 -0500
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Ferszt (biotech at ic.ac.uk) wrote:
> If that bothers you, then by all means buy organically-grown
> produce.

I try to buy as much organically grown produce as possible but, at times--especially in winter-- some things are just not available. So I am quite curious about the potato story as it relates to spraying and treating them. One thing I do not comprehend is why they would be sprayed with a herbicide as you said.
From: Joan Ellis (joan3 at ix.netcom.com)
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 18:27:22 -0700
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A Ferszt (biotech at ic.ac.uk) wrote:
>I'd need to look that up. Given that potatoes are generally
>sprayed (pesticides/herbicides) several times up to
>harvesting, don't think it would make much difference after

Since potatoes grow under the ground, how much spray actually gets on the tubers themselves?
From: JTEhler at aol.com
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 03:08:04 GMT
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Joan Ellis wrote:
> Since potatoes grow under the ground, how much spray actually gets on the tubers
> themselves?

The main chemicals that you would find on potatoes are the chemicals applied to stored tubers or growing plants that can delay sprouting.

James (webmaster, chef, writer)
Blue Heaven Restaurant, Key West, FL
http://www.blueheavenkw.com
From: Joan Ellis (joan3 at ix.netcom.com)
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 22:00:57 -0700
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JTEhler at aol wrote:
>The main chemicals that you would find on potatoes are the chemicals
>applied to stored tubers or growing plants that can delay sprouting.

I realize that, but the post I was replying to said:
"potatoes are generally sprayed (pesticides/herbicides) several times up to harvesting," leaving a residue of chemicals on the potatoes. My point is that spraying the potato plants will not get to the potatoes themselves as they are under the ground.
From: penmart01 at aol.como (Sheldon)
Date: 29 Aug 2000 05:35:09 GMT
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Joan Ellis wrote:
>I realize that, but the post I was replying to said:
>"potatoes are generally sprayed (pesticides/herbicides) several times up to
>harvesting," leaving a residue of chemicals on the potatoes. My point is that
>spraying the potato plants will not get to the potatoes themselves as they
>are under the ground.

The pesticides used are systemic, that is they're absorbed through the foilage and then travel throughout the entire plant.

sys*tem*ic [1] (adjective)

First appeared 1803

: of, relating to, or common to a system: as

a: affecting the body generally

b: supplying those parts of the body that receive blood through the aorta rather than through the pulmonary artery

c: of, relating to, or being a pesticide that as used is harmless to the plant or higher animal but when absorbed into its sap or bloodstream makes the entire organism toxic to pests (as an insect or fungus)
From: Joan Ellis (joan3 at ix.netcom.com)
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 22:01:59 -0700
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Sheldon wrote:
>The pesticides used are systemic, that is they're absorbed through the foilage
>and then travel throughout the entire plant.

Systemic pesticides are not generally used on food crops. And the discussion was about chemicals *on* the potatoes, not *in* them.
From: Charles L. Gifford (saiga at concentric.net)
Date: 30 Aug 2000 09:28:03 GMT
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Joan Ellis wrote:
> Systemic pesticides are not generally used on food crops.

Systemic pesticides and herbicides are I believe used extensively now on food crops. It is without doubt the most effective way to combat these problems. Similar to the work going on, and crops now planted that have been altered to provide their own
pesticides and herbicides.

> And the discussion was
> about chemicals *on* the potatoes, not *in* them.

I think that that is nit picking. Chemicals ON plants are to some extent going to be IN plants whether they are systemic chemicals or not.

Charlie
From: penmart01 at aol.como (Sheldon)
Date: 30 Aug 2000 10:02:07 GMT
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Me too. ;)
From: Joan Ellis (joan3 at ix.netcom.com)
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 19:06:33 -0700
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>Systemic pesticides and herbicides are I believe used extensively
>now on food crops. It is without doubt the most effective way to
>combat these problems. Similar to the work going on, and crops

I see that I'm outnumbered, My information must be out of date.
From: Charles L. Gifford (saiga at concentric.net)
Date: 31 Aug 2000 09:02:50 GMT
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Joan Ellis wrote:
> My information must be out of date.

<smile> Yes, that could be. It is amazing what has been going on in agriculture even within the last 10 or 15 years. The progress now seems to be exponential and undoubtedly some huge issues are going to have to be faced before much longer. Already we see the beginnings of this with the growing outcry against genetically altered food crops and livestock.

Charlie
From: Joan Ellis (joan3 at ix.netcom.com)
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 18:55:12 -0700
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A big objection that I have recently heard about is that there is a danger to the Monarch butterfly. The pollen of Bt corn is toxic to their larvae, as it is to all caterpillars. The danger to the butterfly is just an unintended consequence. A description of the danger can be found here in a letter to the EPA.

http://www.ucsusa.org/agriculture/browner.aug11.html [archive.org]

It's interesting that danger to a butterfly can be an important argument against genetically altered food crops.
From: Madeline (madwen at mailbag.spammenot.com)
Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2000 12:42:30 -0500
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Joan Ellis wrote:
> It's interesting that danger to a butterfly can be an important
> argument against genetically altered food crops.

A warning.... sort of like a canary in a mineshaft. I just hope it is not too late.
From: penmart01 at aol.como (Sheldon)
Date: 30 Aug 2000 09:55:42 GMT
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Joan Ellis wrote:
>Systemic pesticides are not generally used on food crops.

Systemic pesticides most certainly are used on food crops, in fact most all modern agricultural pesticides are systemic (read definition carefully, try not moving your lips).

"Systemic"
c: of, relating to, or being a pesticide that as used is harmless to the plant or higher animal but when absorbed into its sap or bloodstream makes the entire organism toxic to pests (as an insect or fungus)

>And the discussion was about chemicals *on* the potatoes, not *in* them.

Was? The discussion *is* about the topic: Treating Potatoes (see Subject). Twats like you, Joan, do not tell me what to write... behave yourself.
From: RED1111 at webtv.net (22 22)
Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2000 19:49:11 -0400 (EDT)
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put a apple in the bag with the potatoes it will keep them from budding in the bag. if u need me RED1111 at webtv.net