Some of the farmers in the Hastings/Spuds/Elkton agricultural area are currently harvesting their potato crops a bit earlier than usual due to good crop growth and industry demand.
A good number of the farms grow LaChipper potatoes. They are white-skinned and do well with our winter growing conditions. Sebagos are a traditional Florida variety that’s getting increasingly more difficult to find, but longtime residents and growers appreciate the unique flavor and texture of this white-skinned potato.
In this region, Irish potatoes were the first varieties to do well and those include the Gold Rush, Red Pontiac, and more recently, the Yukon Gold. One of the most successful yellow varieties however is the Satina that was introduced around 2002. People enjoy the yellow flesh and yellow skin of the potato. Only the Yukon Gold outsells the Satina in Florida.
In the red-skinned family, Red LaSoda is this region’s current standard commercial, red-skinned potato. They grow fast and produce good yields.
As of 2016, UF reported that this region supplies 30% of the potato crop for the entire country.
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Approximately 200 varieties of potatoes are sold in the United States and they all fit into one of the seven potato categories: russet, red, white, yellow, blue (purple), fingerling and petite. But no matter what potato you choose for your specific dish, there are some universal tips to keep your potatoes in top shape until you’re ready to use them.
Don’t bring them home and wash them. Wait until you are ready to cook them and then wash them. Dampness increases spoilage. They store best in a ventilated container like perforated plastic or paper bags. Keep them in a cool dark space like a kitchen closet, but not in the refrigerator.
COVID vaccines pop-up site
There will be a Pop-Up Vaccine Clinic at the Hastings Branch Library from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday or until they are out of vaccines. The vaccine being offered is the Johnson & Johnson variety which is approved for individuals 18 and older. As of this writing, they plan to distribute 250 doses during the clinic, on a first-come, first- serve basis.
Tax help
It is not too late to get your income taxes done at the Hastings Branch Library. But with the May 15 deadline for filing, don’t wait too much longer! Call 904-827-6970 to make an appointment. Help is provided from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays at the library, 6195 S. Main St., Hastings.
'Turtles of Florida'
Parks and Rec naturalist Kelly Ussia will give an engaging talk on “Turtles of Florida” via the library Zoom at 3:30 p.m. May 11. Learn about what turtles might live in the pond down the street from your house. Contact Will at mpate@sjcfl.us for the Zoom link to the program.
Backyard Book Club
Join the Backyard Book Club at Canopy Shores Park at 9:30 a.m. May 19. The book being read is "A Land Remembered" by Patrick D. Smith.
Bring your own chair, snack and beverage and enjoy the beautiful setting while discussing the story which opens in 1858. This book was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and received the state’s highest literary award from the Florida Historical Society. The Backyard Book Club will meet at parks around the county to discuss your all-time favorite nature titles, both fiction and nonfiction. Registration is required. Call Amy at 904-827-6942 or email aackerman@sjcfl.us.
Hastings Library
All library assistance and resources are available to St. Johns County residents through their tax dollars. All it takes for you to participate in this wonderful world of adventure, support, education, and opportunity, is your library card! Call or stop by your local branch today and get yours if you don’t have one. And remember there are amazing programs for every age available through the EVENTS tab at www.SJCPLS.org.
Mobile mammogram appointments
Free 3D Mobile Mammogram appointments will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 15 at the Family Worship Center at 2740 State Road 207, St. Augustine, sponsored by Unity Outreach. Call 904-996-8100 for information and to make an appointment, or to attend the Hat and Tea Party which starts at 10 a.m., RSVP to UnityStAug1@gmail.com or call Peggy at 904-571-1658.
Contact Nancy Quatrano at nancy@nlquatrano.com by 5 p.m. on Fridays if you have information for the column. Put “Hastings” in the subject line.
May 03, 2021 at 04:32PM
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AROUND HASTINGS: St. Johns County farmers start harvesting potatoes - St. Augustine Record
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