The Rural Voice, 1989-04, Page 69WHAT'S NEW
POTATO VARIETY
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cTRikinir. rni nPOTATO VARIETY STRIKING GOLD
Canadians are consuming more po-
tato chips than ever — six pounds per
capita per year. That's a 35 -per cent
increase since the early 1980s.
So Saginaw Gold, a new high quality
chipping and tablestock potato which
will be available to growers this spring,
joins a healthy market.
Saginaw Gold is being released
jointly by the University of Guelph,
Michigan State University, Agriculture
Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food.
Developed in Canada by Robert
Coffin, an Agriculture Canada potato
breeder stationed at the University of
Guelph, Rick Yada of Guelph's Depart-
ment of Food Science, and technician
Mary Kay Keenan, Saginaw Gold has
low sugar levels which make it stay
light, even when stored and then fried
for chips.
"It has an excellent taste, competi-
tive yields, and high dry matter content,
all of which are important to chip proc-
essors," says Robert Coffin.
Saginaw Gold's chronology spans
three countries and nearly two decades.
One of its primary parental lines was
obtained from the Max Planck Institute,
West Germany, by Norman Thompson
of Michigan State University. In 1970,
he crossbred the German line with an-
other at the university.
One of the seedlings was dubbed
MS002-171 y, which later became Sagi-
naw Gold. This name refers to both the
variety's colour and Michigan's Sagi-
naw Bay. The potato industry tradition-
ally names new varieties after a body of
water near their place of development.
Thompson maintained the seedling
in tests in Michigan and gave samples to
the University of Guelph for evaluation.
The potato breeding program at MSU
was temporarily discontinued when
Thompson retired, but in Guelph, Sagi-
naw Gold's development was carried on
by Gary Johnston, who when he reitired
in 1980 handed the project on to Coffin.
Anyone wishing to purchase Sagi-
naw Gold seed should contact Agricul-
ture Canada seed inspectors for a seed
growers' list. Seed stocks are also being
multiplied in Michigan.0
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T
THE SCANDINAVIAN EXPERIENCE AWAITS YOU!
Life and Agricultural Study Tour to
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May 27th to June 13th, 1989
Escorts: Andy and Marion Watson, Paincourt, Ontario
• Explore the Fjord Country
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Call or write for detailed brochure.
Consort
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Give us a call or stop by
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Serving our community
agriculture, construction, industry or hobbyist
Pick-up or prompt delivery
Service makes the dif Jerence
30 Boyd St., Stratford, Ontario
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Open: Mon. to Fri. 8 to 5:30, Sat. 9 to 12 noon
1-800-265-8504 271-0600
For detailed brochures and reservations, contact :
CLARE BURT TOURS
21 Queen Street East,
Brampton, Ontario L6W 3P1
416-451-4944 1-800-268-3090
APRIL 1988 67