The History of the Sunchoke

This episode of "The Poor Proles Almanac," titled "Episode 151 #2: The Great Jerusalem Artichoke Scandal part 1," begins a four-part series exploring the bizarre story of American Energy Farming Systems (AEFS), a company that attempted to capitalize on the Jerusalem artichoke (also known as the sunchoke) as a source of renewable energy and agricultural salvation during the energy crisis of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Hosts Andy and Elliot trace the origins of this ambitious venture, highlighting the eccentric personalities and dubious claims that fueled its rise.

The First Messiah of the Jerusalem Artichoke

Before introducing AEFS, the hosts recount the story of Fred Johnson, a Nebraska man who became obsessed with the Jerusalem artichoke during the Great Depression. Johnson, who the episode dubs "Fred the First," believed the plant was a panacea, a "weed worth a million dollars" capable of solving the nation's economic and agricultural woes. He touted its potential as a source of alcohol fuel and a superior sweetener derived from a sugar called levulos. Johnson even went so far as to carry Jerusalem artichoke tubers in his pockets, stopping strangers on the street to extol their virtues.

Johnson's advocacy for the Jerusalem artichoke reached its peak when he became a congressman in the 1940s, using his political platform to push for its widespread adoption. While his efforts ultimately failed to ignite a nationwide Jerusalem artichoke revolution, his story foreshadows the themes of misguided enthusiasm and economic opportunism that would characterize AEFS a few decades later.

A Nation on Edge: The Energy Crisis and the Rise of Fred the Second

The episode then shifts to the late 1970s, a period marked by economic instability and the second energy crisis of the decade. Spiraling fuel prices, double-digit inflation, and the Three Mile Island nuclear accident created a climate of anxiety and a desperate search for alternative energy solutions. This context sets the stage for the emergence of Fred Hendrickson, a self-proclaimed "agribusiness concept developer" who believed he had found the answer to America's energy woes in the humble Jerusalem artichoke.

Hendrickson, whom the episode calls "Fred the Second," shared an uncanny resemblance to his predecessor in both name and fervent belief in the Jerusalem artichoke's potential. Like Johnson, Hendrickson envisioned the plant as a source of alcohol fuel, promoting it as a path to energy independence and agricultural prosperity. However, Hendrickson's vision went beyond mere fuel production. He believed the Jerusalem artichoke could revolutionize agriculture, providing food for humans and livestock, and even serving as a substitute for sugar and starch, particularly for diabetics.

More Than Just a Business: The Evangelical Zeal of AEFS

What set Hendrickson and AEFS apart from previous proponents of the Jerusalem artichoke was the religious fervor with which they promoted their vision. Hendrickson, who underwent a dramatic religious conversion in the early 1970s, saw himself as a prophet chosen by God to lead America to salvation through the Jerusalem artichoke. He framed the plant as a "Biblical plant of promise", a divine gift meant to "feed and save his people". This evangelical framing resonated with farmers struggling during the farm crisis of the 1980s, who were desperate for a solution to their economic woes and receptive to the message of hope and renewal that AEFS offered.

A Hemisphere Scheme: Selling Hope and Seeds

While AEFS did sell actual Jerusalem artichoke seeds, its business model relied heavily on a pyramid-like structure. The company encouraged early adopters to sell seeds to subsequent generations of growers, promising them a share of the profits from this burgeoning new industry. This system, while technically not illegal, capitalized on the speculative frenzy surrounding the Jerusalem artichoke, with farmers and investors alike buying into the hype and driving up demand for seeds.

From Boring to Bonkers: The Unraveling of Fred the Second

The episode concludes by revealing a more personal side to Hendrickson, painting a portrait of a man driven by ambition, a messianic complex, and a seemingly inexhaustible capacity for self-delusion. Prior to his Jerusalem artichoke epiphany, Hendrickson had a history of jumping from job to job, always chasing the next big idea. He even attempted to secure a loan to purchase 27 counties in South Dakota for a self-sufficient farming system that included everything from cattle grazing to aquaculture.

Hendrickson's grandiose visions, coupled with his fervent belief in his own divine mission, set the stage for a story that promises to be as entertaining as it is cautionary. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, hinting at further revelations about AEFS, its charismatic founder, and the inevitable crash of the Jerusalem artichoke bubble.

This episode connects with our previous discussions on the Langstroth hive and the Merino sheep craze by illustrating how economic desperation, combined with a charismatic leader and a compelling narrative, can lead to irrational exuberance and the exploitation of both people and resources. Like the Merino sheep craze, AEFS capitalized on a moment of perceived opportunity, promising wealth and salvation through a seemingly miraculous agricultural product. However, the episode suggests that this "horticultural hysteria" would ultimately prove unsustainable, leaving behind a trail of financial ruin and ecological consequences.

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