Big Ideas for Food
Washington Potato Growers
If you had french fries or hashbrowns anywhere in the U.S. this year, chances are it came from Washington potatoes.
The state of Washington grows more potatoes per acre than any other place on earth. And it does so with higher quality, better consistency, and with fewer inputs (pesticides, et al) largely thanks to decades of partnership between growers and public research.
Washington State University celebrated this partnership with this ode to potato growers. The ones who looked at the barren desert of the Columbia Basin and saw a fertile and abundant food supply for the world.
Washington Grain Growers
The rolling fields of Eastern Washington have the distinction of being the most productive wheat-growing ground per acre in the entire world. Decades of collaboration between growers, horticulturists, and researchers have resulted in hearty strains of grain grown in quantities unimaginable 50 years ago. The end product of soft white wheat is transported down the Snake and Columbia River system for export worldwide.
Washington State University celebrated this inspiring collaboration with the state’s grain industry by commissioning this video.
River Highway
The Columbia-Snake River System is a 465-mile long water route providing slackwater freight passage from the Portland, Oregon seaport to Lewiston, Idaho. The route is a vital part of the region’s agriculture industry, transporting over 2.5 million metric tonnes of grain each year.
Consisting of 8 lock and dam facilities and 20 ports, the River Highway is a vital part of the Pacific Northwest’s infrastructure and supports thousands of jobs across several states.
This time-lapse project shows the journey of a typical grain barge from the Snake River’s upper reaches to (nearly) its destination in the lower Columbia River gorge. Along the way, you encounter rugged canyons, soaring wildlife, massive bridges, and see our nation’s most efficient and carbon-friendly transportation method in action.
