Joseph R. Sowokinos

Joseph R. Sowokinos is an Emeritus Professor, retired from the University of Minnesota in 2009. He is a carbohydrate enzyme biochemist who investigates the control of starch-sugar formation in potato tubers both during growth and storage. One-half of his career was in the study of factors affecting starch synthesis via ADP-Glucose pyrophosphorylase. The last half involved the biochemical mechanism regulating cold sweetening in stored potatoes. In the 1980's he developed a commercial method to monitor the chemical maturity of potatoes used for chip (crisp) or French fries which is being used widely in the U.S. and abroad.