By Associated Press - Saturday, December 7, 2019

JAMESPORT, N.Y. (AP) - New York Sen. Charles Schumer is praising the humble spud, at least the ones grown on Long Island.

The Democratic lawmaker appeared at a farm on Long Island’s North Fork on Saturday to promote locally grown potatoes.

Newsday reports that the impetus for the news conference at the John Kujawski & Sons farm in Jamesport was a U.S. Department of Agriculture report predicting a 6% decline in potato production in 2019.

The USDA reported last month that bad weather earlier this fall affected crops in several states including Idaho, by far the nation’s largest potato producer.

Schumer said Long Island, in contrast, has plenty of potatoes. “Our crop is good,” he said.

He said his office contacted the National Restaurant Association to promote Long Island potatoes.

Jeff Solsby, the association’s vice president for advocacy communications, said he would “gladly echo” Schumer’s praise for New York potatoes and would make sure that restaurants know that Long Island growers “have taters to share.”

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