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Old December 29, 2010   #8
Fusion_power
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Alabama
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Mahon was available through South Carolina Crop Improvement and through a few other sources over the years.

http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/seed/heirloom.htm

This link no longer has it listed, but a couple of years ago, it was included. This is from the 2007 listing:
Mahon Sweet Potato - We are happy to offer plant of this "personal favorite" HEIRLOOM grown by Dr. Bradshaw. Very vigorous grower and very productive. A rose-colored skin covers rich orange flesh. While there may be slight variability in the flesh color, the flesh is always richly sweet and creamy with very few strings. Many growers have reported white tail deer select other sweet potato varieties to browse, leaving the Mahon potatoes with little damage.

I would be interested in finding out if Mr. Mahon is the original source of the sweetpotato in question. This patent may be a legitimate effort to prevent someone else from stealing a plant variety. In other words, the patent is to protect something that was at risk of being nicked by one of the big companies. On the other hand, it could just be opportunism.

DarJones
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