While browsing a website that listed GMOs, I was shocked to find Shepody potatoes among the Frankenfoods. Is one of North America's top french fry potatoes really a GM Frankenspud?!?? NOT! GM potatoes are probably lurking in experimental plots here and there - but they're most definitely not in your french fries or at the market. THE TRUTH - STRAIGHT FROM THE SPUD STUD FARM To breed Shepody potatoes, more or less naturally, Canadian scientists made like bees. First, they removed the male parts from potato flowers, leaving only the female part. Then, using artist's brushes, they picked up pollen "donated" by a spud stud with desirable traits and fertilized the female flowers. |
After many years of patiently auditioning more than 200,000 spudly hopefuls on an experimental farm in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the breeders triumphed with the french fry contender of their dreams. The golden arches in the U.S. makes french fries out of freshly harvested Shepody potatoes from August to October each year. Shepody matures early, but it spoils fast too. By November, it's not fit for premium fries. Are the scientists who bred the super spud working on breeding a new and improved potato? But of course. The perfect french fry is the holy grail of fast food.
In 2000, I wrote and produced a series of 25 stories for Discovery Channel Canada and 5 federal government departments. The development of Shepody potatoes was one of them.
EarthTones – Breeding the Shepody Potato
In 2000, I wrote and produced a series of 25 stories for Discovery Channel Canada and 5 federal government departments. The development of Shepody potatoes was one of them.
EarthTones – Breeding the Shepody Potato
KNOW WHAT YOU EAT
You don't have to take some website's word for it. If you want to know how your food was produced, look at the Produce Code, or PLU - the numbers on those sticky labels on fruit and veg.
Produce Code Demystified
* 3 or 4 at the beginning of the four digit PLU means that it’s grown conventionally (with pesticides etc)
* 8 in front of the four digit PLU means it’s GM (genetically modified)
* 9 in front of the four digit PLU means it’s organically grown
Here's an online lookup for PLU codes or you can download a more complete pdf list:
PLU Code Lookup and List
You don't have to take some website's word for it. If you want to know how your food was produced, look at the Produce Code, or PLU - the numbers on those sticky labels on fruit and veg.
Produce Code Demystified
* 3 or 4 at the beginning of the four digit PLU means that it’s grown conventionally (with pesticides etc)
* 8 in front of the four digit PLU means it’s GM (genetically modified)
* 9 in front of the four digit PLU means it’s organically grown
Here's an online lookup for PLU codes or you can download a more complete pdf list:
PLU Code Lookup and List