Potatoes

Question

Three weeks ago, I noticed an OU on a bag of potatoes. So I wrote to the Vebbe Rebbe the following letter: Can I buy fresh raw potatoes and carrots anywhere or do they need to be kosher certified? If they need to be certified kosher, what are the standards for determining that the potato is indeed kosher? For example is the bagging machine greased with a lubricant that might possibly be derived from an animal source? I am asking because I bought a bag of Grimway Organic Potatoes and noticed that they had an OU on the bag. Since I have never before bought potatoes that were certified, (I usually just buy them loose because it is cheaper) I am concerned. Does this means that I will have to kasher all of the pots that I have cooked potatoes in? Is it sufficient to kasher the pots in which I have cooked uncertified potatoes in with hagala or do you recommend that I replace the pots (they are stainless steel, without a lip). Is it necessary to use a blow torch to kasher the oven in which I have cooked uncertified potatoes or is a simple self cleaning acceptable? Does it matter if I usually peel the potatoes before I cook them? Do I have to kasher the sink if I have let the peels from uncertified potatoes drop in it? Would it be possible to contact the Rabbi that certifies the Grimway Potato plant so that he can tell me if any other bagged potatoes are kosher or if I need to make sure that the potatoes I buy are certified? Does the OU on the potato bag mean that I can use these potatoes for Pesach or would it be necessary for me to only buy potatoes with the OU-P? Also, what are the OU's specific guidelines for carrots, onions or celery which I understand are also produced in the Grimway plant? Thank you very very much in advance for all of your help, I certainly would not want to unknowingly commit a very grave kashrut error. Sincerely and respectfully, XXXXXX For the past three weeks I have been in contact with Sarah Rosner at the OU who assures me that the OU RAbbis are working on this question, but I have yet to receive an answer. Maybe someone might bring this up at the OU convention? The OU is a corporation and not an individual. Is is wrong to notify companies like this Grimway (who is a small, family owned company that does nothing but package raw, unprocessed organic produce) that the thousands of dollars that they are spending on OU certification is good for nothing but a good laugh? I did call the company and they told me that they do indeed pay thousands of dollars for the OU and that an OU Rabbi visits the plant each year to insure that they are "in compliance" with the OU standards. They also told me that many people were calling to "ask if they were really visited by an OU Rabbi and if they were really kosher". I was thinking of knocking on Rabbi Luban's door (he lives here), but figured I would give them a few more days to figure out how raw, unpeeled potatoes could become taref during the bagging process.