Farm fresh potatoes, any way you like ‘em

I for one appreciate anything deep fried and the Alaska State Fair has an abundant amount of choices in that department. There is one booth however that stands out among the rest.

One of my favorite booths to visit each Fair season will always be the Bushes Bunches stand which is located near the Craig Taylor Farm Exhibits. It's not just a great place to get some tasty fried peanut potatoes. It also features a produce stand filled to the brim with fresh and locally grown crops.

Bushes Bunches Farm Manager Kristi Short said it takes a lot of preparation getting ready for the Fair.

“It begins the moment the fair is over," Short said. “It's a year-round effort.”

The Bushes Bunches booth serves a variety of food options such as fried peanut potato wedges, beef stew, and rhubarb pie. The number one seller by far has always been the fried peanut potato wedges.

“We'll probably go through about 13,000 pounds of peanut potatoes this season," Short said.

Short wanted to remind evey body that they're allergy aware and fry the potatoes in canola oil, not peanut oil like some may think.

The fried peanut potatoes are presented to customers un-seasoned and they have numerous ways of choosing how to flavor their order on their own. I personally think even the plain potato route taste good but I usually season my order with salt and pepper.

“We grow them, we pick them, we wash them, we cut them, we fry them, and we're done. You get to decide how you dress your potatoes,” Short said.

For $12, your fried peanut potato wedges order is a hearty one pound. I can't think of any other Fair booth that offers a pound of filling food at that price.

I've been tasked with using $25 to try some Alaska State Fair food and write about. I feel like visiting the Bushes Bunches stand is a great way to stretch your dollar and carry on for a full day at the Fair with a full belly.

“I think it's still sort of a value," Short said. “We want you to get your money's worth. We like things in abundance so we like you to have it too.”

According to Short, the beef stew and the rhubarb lemonade are the other big sellers. She said they introduced a rhubarb lemonade popsicle this year and it's been a huge hit.

The Bushes Bunches booth is one of the most iconic and longest running Fair booths. It's been at the Fair nearly four decades.

“Most people know who we are, and this a lot of peoples’ very first stop and last stop," Short said. “I feel like we're one of those booths that other food vendors look up to, and we supply a lot of the vendors too.”

Many will agree that the food is a core part of the Fair experience.

“Most of the people I talk to, most of the reason they come to the Fair is their food journey. It's a food adventure,” Short said with a laugh.

Beyond the Fair, people can purchase produce and other locally sourced products at the family owned and operated Bushes Bunches stand located off the Old Glenn Highway near the Lazy Mountain area.

Bushes Bunches was named the 2024 Alaska State Fair Farm Family of the Year, adding another feather in the cap after years of community recognition.

I'm glad the Bushes Bunches Fair booth is located in the agricultural area. It's a fitting location for a booth that represents the historical essence of the Fair's roots in agriculture. Whenever someone buys something from their booth, they're watering those roots and keeping the tradition alive and well.

“Every time they are buying some things they're supporting Alaska Grown,” Short said.