Upstate Abundance Potatoes
Estimated Inventory, 50 lbs : 7.04
This item was last sold on : 11/17/24
Description/Taste
Upstate Abundance potatoes are generally small in size, ranging between 2 and 5 centimeters in diameter, though some tubers may grow slightly larger, depending on cultivation conditions. The tubers are typically around the size of a golf ball and are mostly uniform with a round to oval shape. Some tubers may exhibit a few lumps or irregular shapes, but overall, the variety is considered consistent in shape. The skin is thin, smooth, and taut, showcasing buff, tan, and pale golden hues. There are also a few dark brown spots and shallow eyes scattered across the surface. Underneath the skin, the white to ivory flesh is firm, dense, and slippery when raw. Once cooked, the flesh softens into a creamy and tender consistency and will hold its shape. The flesh will also not darken with heat during the cooking process. Upstate Abundance potatoes are edible after cooking and are known for their rich, nutty, and buttery flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Upstate Abundance potatoes are available in the fall through mid-winter, typically between September and February.
Current Facts
Upstate Abundance potatoes, botanically classified as Solanum tuberosum, are a specialty variety released through the Row 7 Seed Company, belonging to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. The variety debuted in the early 21st century and is an early to mid-season cultivar known for its white flesh, petite nature, high yields, and flavor. Upstate Abundance potatoes will set continuously throughout the growing season, and new potatoes can be harvested around seventy-five days, while mature tubers are collected at one hundred days. Despite their smaller size, Upstate Abundance potatoes are renowned for their flavor and are regarded as a table stock variety for cooked culinary preparations. It is said that the variety can be simply prepared and does not require the addition of butter for a rich taste. The flavor is distinct when served on its own, and the tubers are versatile, used in a wide array of recipes. Upstate Abundance potatoes are offered as certified organic seed potatoes on the Row 7 Seed Company’s website and are the product of natural, selective crossbreeding, not genetic modification, also known as GMO. The tubers are grown and sold only in season to maintain the best quality and flavor. They are also noted for their resistance to potato viruses such as Golden Nematode Race Ro1 and Potato Virus Y or PVY. Upstate Abundance potatoes are sold through select retailers across the United States and are also grown in home gardens for use in savory culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Upstate Abundance potatoes have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. Like other white potatoes, the variety may be a source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract, calcium to protect bones and teeth, and iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream. The variety may also contain some potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, and vitamin B6 to assist in nerve functions and help maintain overall cardiovascular health.
Applications
Upstate Abundance potatoes have a rich, buttery, and nutty taste suited for cooked preparations. The variety is promoted for its flavor and is recommended for simple cooking methods, such as boiling in salt water. Once tender, the tubers are consumed out of hand and do not need the addition of butter. The variety’s small size also allows the entire potato to be popped into the mouth and eaten, a favorite method of children. In addition to boiling, Upstate Abundance potatoes can be utilized in any preparation, calling for creamer potatoes. The variety can be cooked and smashed to create a crispy nature, sprinkled in chili oil, or roasted as a savory accompaniment to main meat dishes. Upstate Abundance potatoes will not darken once cooked and will also hold their shape, not sloughing layers during the heating process. Try adding the tubers to soups and stews, tossing them with vegetables in stir-fries, or boiling them and using them in salads. Upstate Abundance potatoes pair well with herbs such as cilantro, chives, rosemary, and thyme, meats including beef, pork, and poultry, seafood, and vegetables such as green beans, carrots, asparagus, and cauliflower. Whole, unwashed tubers will keep for a few weeks when stored in a cool and dark location. It is recommended to immediately consume the variety after purchase for the best quality and flavor.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Upstate Abundance potatoes were named for their site of creation in Ithaca, a city considered a part of the geographical region labeled Upstate New York. The variety is also known for producing consistently high yields, earning its “abundance” descriptor. Upstate Abundance potatoes were developed by second-generation potato breeder Walter De Jong, a professor at the School of Integrative Plant Science in the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section at Cornell University. Upstate Abundance potatoes are one of De Jong’s favorite table potatoes, and before they were released to the public, they became a popular variety throughout the breeding team at Cornell University. Within the variety’s breeding pedigree, Upstate Abundance potatoes have genetic connections to various Mexican and Canadian cultivars. The Canadian lineage, tied to the variety AC Chaleur, is notable as AC Chaleur potatoes were created by De Jong’s father, a potato breeder with Agriculture Canada. AC Chaleur potatoes are one of the parents of the Jacqueline Lee variety, which was used to create Upstate Abundance. The success of Upstate Abundance is also attributed to the work of the Row 7 Seed Company. The company’s focus on flavor begins at the seed level, and they work with breeders to create varieties with outstanding flavors to reframe the narrative around cultivation. Seed breeding has historically been centered around commercial traits such as uniformity, yields, and appearances versus flavor. Row 7 is operating as a transparent company to encourage a resurgence in focusing on flavor.
Geography/History
Upstate Abundance potatoes were developed by potato breeder Walter De Jong in the United States in the early 21st century at the Cornell University Breeding Station in Ithaca, New York. Walter De Jong is a professor and breeder at Cornell University, and in 2000, he began developing seeds for field trial plantings to create a new variety with high yields and improved disease resistance. One of the seeds, labeled NY150, was a cross between Jacqueline Lee, the male parent, and NY121, the female parent. NY150 and other potential varieties were sown in greenhouses and were later planted in research trial fields in Ithaca, New York, between 2004 and 2006. During field evaluations, Walter De Jong and field manager Matt Falise noticed the grouping of the NY150 small tubers and were impressed with their bright white flesh and yields. They also discovered that the tubers had a memorable flavor profile. NY150 was initially deemed unfit for commercial markets due to its small size, but De Jong and Falise still selected the variety to share with growers due to its rich flavor. Over seventeen years after the creation of NY150, the variety was released to growers in 2018 and was named Upstate Abundance. De Jong partnered with the Row 7 Seed Company to officially release the tubers in their catalog, and through the company’s participatory network of over 150 growers and chefs, the variety quickly spread in recognition and notoriety for its flavor. Since its release, Row 7 has connected with organic growers across the United States to expand Upstate Abundance seed potato production, and the seed tubers are sold through online retailers in the United States. Upstate Abundance potatoes are a seasonal variety for commercial sale through Row 7 and select distribution partners. The variety is also grown in home gardens nationwide.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| 31ThirtyOne by Deckman | San Diego CA | 619-495-9814 |
| Mister A's | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
| Chef Jenn | Solana Beach CA | 858-212-9054 |
| Juniper & Ivy | San Diego CA | 858-481-3666 |
