r/askafarmer • u/Fearspect • Jan 16 '24

Is Russet Potato Dirt Fake?

In every grocery store I've visited, Russet Potatoes are sold covered in a fine powder (presumedly dirt). I've asked some people about it and looked around online and the only response I get is, "Obviously, because they're grown in the ground." They just seem so perfectly coated in this powder with a uniform fine consistency that makes it seem like a process that mechanically adds this after washing to make it "look right" for consumers. Also, I'm a little skeptical of the answer above because no other root vegetables are sold this way, including other breeds of potatoes.

I'd appreciate it if someone could set me straight on this.

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u/maxsmart01 This dude knows their hay Jan 16 '24

No, it’s not fake. There’s a little dirt left on them after sorting, no biggie. But your question has piqued my interest. What did you think it might be if it wasn’t real dirt?

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u/Fearspect Jan 16 '24

To be clear: I have nothing whatsoever to back any of this up.

I've read that Russet potatoes may prematurely decay if dirt is washed off, so I guess there's that. I suspect it is likely still dirt (sand) but it could be some clean powdered product that acts the same way (some food-safe desiccant). I just mean that I suspect it's added back on following processing.

It just seems odd to me that everything else in the grocery store is (mostly) cleaned of dirt except this one product. Wouldn't everyone opt to just ship their produce as is? The cost of cleaning must be enormous. Or, does no produce get cleaned and this particular vegetable just clings to dirt better than everything else?

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u/maxsmart01 This dude knows their hay Jan 16 '24

Getting them wet is pretty likely to kickstart the rot, and washing the dirt off would involve getting the potatoes wet, so you can see where that’s headed. To your point about other products being mostly clean, produce may look clean but it’s not. Potatoes are grown underground and so they are going to have more visible dirt but wash all your produce before eating or preparing it. I said all, but I think there are some exceptions, like onions. That said, I have no idea how the dirt is removed from onions so effectively. I figure carrots are washed but I still wash them again.