Grading Potatoes
The potato harvest has begun for our farm this week and so I am now grading potatoes. This means that once the potatoes are lifted from the field, they are then tipped from the trailer onto a conveyor belt that allows us to grade the potatoes by picking out the following items;
- Stones,
- Mud,
- Weeds,
- Grass,
- Foreign objects,
- Rotten potatoes,
- Green potatoes,
- Mis-shaped potatoes,
- Largest potatoes,
- Smallest potatoes.
Although grading potatoes can be a little bit monotonous for some people, the conversation at our grader is certainly entertaining. I suggested that I tape the conversations and include them on my website as a podcast or should I say “potato-cast”!!!
Potatoes
This must be the world’s most boring job. I do it on a tiny scale, and by the time I’ve got all the spuds bagged I’ve lost the will to live.
What varieties do you grow, Sara?
Comment by Soilman — September 27, 2007 @ 8:15 am
Hi Soilman,
Yes grading potatoes can be boring if you do it alot, but I am new to it so I haven’t reached boredom level yet! The variety we are currently growing are hermes and these potatoes will be made into a well known brand of potatoes!
Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — September 27, 2007 @ 11:11 am
Hi Sara, When I was at secondary school I had a Saturday morning job at the local farm shop where I sorted, weighed and packed potatoes from 56lb sacks into smaller bags, like for all kids it was a bit of a chore having to get out of bed early at the weekend but once I was there it was great as I met lots of different friends my age along the way, I used to hate the feel of dried earth on my hands and yes it was monotonous, but if I was lucky I was put on packing eggs from the trays into boxes, or luckier still in the summer promoted to working outside on the soft fruit stall. Happy days!
Comment by THIS IS MY PATCH — September 27, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Hi This Is My Patch,
What interesting memories you have shared with me. Thank you. i bet it was good when they varied the job and meeting your friends would make it more enjoyable. Thanks again for the comment.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — September 27, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
Hi Sara
Foreign bodies sounds imteresting - have you had anything exciting in that category!
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg — September 29, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Hi Topveg,
We often get lovely glass bottles which are nice to keep. Many years ago my father in law’s dad found a World War II bullet that was still live, which he had disposed of safely!
What a great question. Thanks for visiting.
Sara from farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — September 30, 2007 @ 2:54 pm