We all know about the Irish Potato Famine, but here in America, blight was killing over a billion dollars’ worth of potatoes in the mid 1800′s. What many people don’t know, is that 94% of the potatoes that we consume today are descended from one that was bred right here in Utica, NY: the Garnet Chili.
Debra Richardson of Slow Food Mohawk Valley has been researching the incredible story of Rev. Chauncey E. Goodrich, who after 19 years of trials, bred a potato that was resistant to the blight. The culmination of that research is documented in “The Patron Saint of Spuds” – a short film which was a collaboration with Ryan Miller from Youtica.org and the Utica Firefly Storytelling Series.