Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/9408
an iPod or who doesn’t use iTunes. While America has pretty much perfected turning lemons into lemonade, it definitely didn’t originate with us. Remember Joseph in Egypt? Thousands of years ago, a 17-year-old is sold by his own brothers and taken against his will to a foreign land. I know how I would’ve reacted—with bitterness and contempt. I would’ve been the most worthless slave in Potiphar’s household. Instead, he soon becomes a man so trusted that Potiphar didn’t even know how much he had, “save the bread which he did eat” (Gen. 39:6). Trouble didn’t end there. Accused of molesting Potiphar’s wife when he was actually trying to get away from her, he’s falsely imprisoned—for years. If I would’ve been strong enough to make lemonade out of being sold into Egypt, this would’ve been too much—I would’ve taken that lemon and thrown it at someone. And I would’ve spent the rest of my life rotting in prison. Instead, Joseph once again becomes a trusted overseer, until the opportunity arises for him to be an instrument in the Lord’s hands, and even then it takes another two years to get out of prison. Years of patience pay off, and he becomes one of the most powerful men around—second only to Pharaoh. In 2010, we’re facing plenty of problems, with Mexico’s retaliatory tariff on U.S. exports still in place, and declining demand in a rising generation that’s losing the skills to cook. But this problem can be our opportunity. And with a little extra help from above, along with 99 percent perspiration, we can turn the potato industry around. Demand is our lemon. It can also be our lemonade, and we don’t have to sell it roadside for 25 cents. PG www.potatogrower.com 5