The Birth of a Chip

In the '90s during my article-writing season, I wrote about anything and everything. I was fortunate to have many articles published, but as with all writers, there were many more never published.

So it was with "The Birth of a Chip," an article written purely because of my extreme enjoyment of a potato chip . . . Utz potato chips, actually. Jerry and I visited the factory and an article developed.

Even an article about potato chips can be enjoyable. I will spare you the complete four page article. I hope you enjoy my shortened version!

"When my husband, Jerry, said, 'Let's visit the Utz's factory,' a flashback of all the reasons I married him ran through my mind as I clobbered him with a giant hug! Potato chips is my middle name. Jerry never knew what hit him.

"I don't recall when my love affair with potato chips began. I remember coming home after church services each Sunday, heading straight to the kitchen to fill a plate high with chips. They were my favorite snack. Plus, they took care of my growling stomach.

"All through my life, potato chips have been my friends. Diets didn't distract me--everything was off limits but the chips.

"I could scarely keep still in my seat as Jerry and I made the hour drive to the Utz factory in Hanover, Maryland. When we arrived at the plant, we glanced through some brochures provided by the company. One of the brochures began with the history of the first potato chip. I'll forever be grateful to Aunt Kate.

"There are four steps in making potato chips: potato selection, preparation, frying, and inspection and seasoning. It was all Jerry could do to hold me back from taking my place on the production line. Several attendants observe all the chips and pick out the dark ones. My hands would be going straight to the perfect ones!

"The most amazing thing I learned was the quickness of going from raw potatos to packaged and ready-for-delivery chips. From start to finish is barely 30 minutes. In one hour, 12,000 pounds of potato chips are produced.

"When the tour ended, Jerry and I drove to the outlet store a few blocks away. I had the pleasure of picking out a potato chip T-shirt.

"Satisfied, we drove home thinking about potato chips. 'You know, I've made potato chips before,' Jerry said. 'I bet we could make ourselves a few chips.' I filed that adventure away for another day.

"'Well, gotta go now. Dinner's about an hour away and old habits never die. It's chip time!'"

I sent my article to the President of the company for accuracy. I was rewarded with a special delivery to my home of a large can of chips!

This article was written in 1990, and 21 years later I still love chips. Utz's potato chips that is.