New Crop: Weiser's New All Red Potato

Felicia Friesema

Weiser Family Farms' All Red potato.

Alex Weiser of Weiser Family Farms is fond of making us ask, "Ooo what's that?" March's entry was a pomegranate-colored tuber sitting off in a corner pile, partially obscured by a box of Chilean Red fingerling potatoes. Those familiar with Weiser are probably not too surprised, as he's been responsible for introducing the L.A. market goers to many new crops: the Ozette, Laker Baker, and Chilean Red Fingerling potatoes in the last few years alone.

"I was thinking of naming it the Gloria All-Red," Weiser teased. "No, I probably won't. For now it's just the All Red, because it is."

The new potato, a hybrid out of Colorado, is scarlet from thin skin to center and has an almost exaggerated, beet-like, waxiness to it. A classic boiling potato, except for its striking color, it made an excellent hash and held up beautifully in a tossed salad, holding its cut from raw to fully cooked without a single dent. If you were looking to nationalize your annual summer potato salad, add a few of Weiser's blues and voila. Flag in a bowl, if that's your thing. The flavor is slightly nutty and just a little sweet.

This crop of All Reds will be around a few weeks yet and expect more later in the season. Though we're still on the lookout for this year's first crop of Laker Bakers.