As in the rest of the region, disease is a major issue, particularly late blight, pink rot, and potato virus Y (known as PVY), to which cultivars of the Pacific Northwest are especially susceptible. And while the constant moisture in the region aids in enriching the soil and speeding the growth cycle, it can also work against growers limiting harvest time as rains and early snow can slow the process and cause delays.
Colorado, which grows in both the fall and summer, faced reduced yields of almost 11 percent in total acreage in its top growing region, the San Luis Valley, where over 50,000 acres are dedicated to potatoes. This was due to a major water shortage in 2012 as well as lower market prices, but summer rains in July and August helped alleviate some of the impact and bolster harvest numbers.
Since Washington is a leading advocate of sustainable agriculture and caters to a demographic of locavores and foodies, there is a growing emphasis on new varieties, smart land management, and organic growing techniques. This is particularly true in the northern Skagit River Valley region, where Jack Wallace handles sales for G&D Wallace, Inc. “We had concerns over the weather this past season because of extended periods of rainfall,” he notes, discussing the area’s well known red potatoes. “But it dried up just in time, so we feel like we got a lucky break in terms of the harvest.”
The remainder of the northwest’s famed potatoes comes from Oregon, which planted its first spuds back in 1795 near Cape Disappointment on the Columbia River, in the southwestern corner of the state. Today, Oregon produces more than 2 billion pounds of potatoes annually.
The Midwest
Thanks largely to the punishing cold in the upper Midwest, potato cultivation can be a risky proposition with early frost a constant danger to the crop. As a result, the region is not as high in yields as the powerhouse Pacific Northwest, but Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan still rank among the nation’s top producers, averaging 15,000 to 20,000 hundred-weight each year, with an increasing amount of the region’s yield directed to chips, potato meal, mashed potato mixes, potato starch, seed, and feed.
Wisconsin is the third-largest domestic producer of potatoes in the United States, and is also a leader in sustainable growth for the crop. Since 2001, the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers have partnered with the likes of the World Wildlife Fund, International Crane Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin to create what has become the industry standard for sustainable potato harvests without harm to wildlife and the surrounding environment.
