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From Russets To Fingerlings

A Potato Production Update
Fingerling Potatoes

As the top vegetable crop in the United States and the third-most consumed food crop worldwide (after rice and wheat), potatoes grown in the United States enjoy robust sales, split fairly evenly between the fresh market and processing.

Although potatoes are grown throughout the United States and Canada, in a variety of climates and soil types, several regions stand out as particularly well-suited to tubers. The United States once grew the majority of its potatoes in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maine (which still ranks among the top ten potato-producing states), but nineteenth-century westward expansion, along with innovations in irrigation and shipping put Idaho, Washington, and Oregon at the forefront of modern potato production.

The majority of potatoes in the United States (90 percent) are planted in the spring and harvested in the autumn, many stored for later sale. The small percentage of U.S. potatoes harvested during other seasons is mostly comprised of specialty varieties (such as round red, white, yellow, and purple potatoes). Potatoes flourish in sunny, mild weather; growers cite daytime highs in the upper seventies and low eighties and overnight lows in the forties and fifties as ideal.

Northwest: The Big Three
Temperatures, as well as the rich volcanic soil of the western United States, have fostered robust potato production in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Idaho and Washington alone produce over half of the nation’s spuds. The familiar and versatile Russet Burbank dominates in the Pacific Northwest, although the region also produces a plethora of other varieties.

In addition to an ideal range of temperatures during the growing season, Idaho potatoes receive much of their water from the surrounding mountains. The overwhelming majority of Idaho potato production remains in russets, although a number of reds, golds, and fingerlings are also grown in the Gem State. Well over half of Idaho potato sales are for processing, a third are for fresh consumption, and the rest are seed potatoes.

Although flat or declining U.S. potato consumption has posed a challenge for grower-shippers in recent years, Chris Wada, director of marketing for Idaho Falls-based Wada Farms Marketing Group, LLC, sees promise in new color varietals.

Innovation is ongoing: “We’re always looking to find and sustain the varieties that are good performers in appearance and eating characteristics,” he notes, referring to reds and golds, as well as the newer purple or dark blue potatoes with whiter flesh than existing varieties. Wada Farms has also responded to increasing demand for mini potatoes, which are easy to prepare and satisfy a sense of novelty for both children and adults.

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As the top vegetable crop in the United States and the third-most consumed food crop worldwide (after rice and wheat), potatoes grown in the United States enjoy robust sales, split fairly evenly between the fresh market and processing.

Although potatoes are grown throughout the United States and Canada, in a variety of climates and soil types, several regions stand out as particularly well-suited to tubers. The United States once grew the majority of its potatoes in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maine (which still ranks among the top ten potato-producing states), but nineteenth-century westward expansion, along with innovations in irrigation and shipping put Idaho, Washington, and Oregon at the forefront of modern potato production.

The majority of potatoes in the United States (90 percent) are planted in the spring and harvested in the autumn, many stored for later sale. The small percentage of U.S. potatoes harvested during other seasons is mostly comprised of specialty varieties (such as round red, white, yellow, and purple potatoes). Potatoes flourish in sunny, mild weather; growers cite daytime highs in the upper seventies and low eighties and overnight lows in the forties and fifties as ideal.

Northwest: The Big Three
Temperatures, as well as the rich volcanic soil of the western United States, have fostered robust potato production in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Idaho and Washington alone produce over half of the nation’s spuds. The familiar and versatile Russet Burbank dominates in the Pacific Northwest, although the region also produces a plethora of other varieties.

In addition to an ideal range of temperatures during the growing season, Idaho potatoes receive much of their water from the surrounding mountains. The overwhelming majority of Idaho potato production remains in russets, although a number of reds, golds, and fingerlings are also grown in the Gem State. Well over half of Idaho potato sales are for processing, a third are for fresh consumption, and the rest are seed potatoes.

Although flat or declining U.S. potato consumption has posed a challenge for grower-shippers in recent years, Chris Wada, director of marketing for Idaho Falls-based Wada Farms Marketing Group, LLC, sees promise in new color varietals.

Innovation is ongoing: “We’re always looking to find and sustain the varieties that are good performers in appearance and eating characteristics,” he notes, referring to reds and golds, as well as the newer purple or dark blue potatoes with whiter flesh than existing varieties. Wada Farms has also responded to increasing demand for mini potatoes, which are easy to prepare and satisfy a sense of novelty for both children and adults.

Production
While Idaho is the nation’s leading potato-producing state, Washington produces the highest per-acre yield of potatoes, with an average of 87 percent being sold for processing. Southeastern Washington and Skagit County in the northern part of the state are also major potato producers, for several popular russet varieties including the Burbank, Norkotah, and Ranger, as well as chipping potatoes and reds, yellows, and blues.

Dry Washington summers necessitate the use of irrigation. To reduce disease, Evergreen State farmers generally leave each potato field fallow for three out of every four growing seasons. Washington potato planting begins at the end of February and continues through early May.

In Oregon, potato production is prominent in Blue Mountain, Central Oregon, Klamath, Malheur, and Willamette Valley. While low rainfall in southeast Oregon makes growing many other crops a challenge, potatoes require less water overall and can thrive in these areas.

Three-quarters of Oregon potatoes are sold for processing, and the Beaver State produces a quarter of the nation’s French fry exports. Top varieties include the ever-popular Burbanks, Norkotahs, Rangers, and the Shepody (the latter two for processing), the Atlantic (primarily a chipping potato), and the La Soda, Yukon Gold, and Dark Red Norland (all fresh market potatoes).

Northern Plains
Ranking third in potato production nationwide, the northern plains (North Dakota and Minnesota) is a crucial region for spuds, particularly the Red River Valley. The region produces high volumes of chipping, processing, fresh market, and seed potatoes.

The valley, created by a glacial lake, boasts flat land and rich black soil superb for growing potatoes. This soil reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation. However, Mike Rerick, vice president of sales and marketing at NoKota Packers, Inc. in Buxton ND, points out that this increases valley growers’ reliance on favorable weather conditions: regular, intermittent rains that provide the spuds with just enough moisture. “In a perfect world, you’d have nice rains a couple times a week and then go from there,” Rerick explains. “Mother Nature really plays a big part. In an irrigated region, you’re able to control the water, but not here.”

Planting usually takes place throughout the month of May, sometimes continuing into June, and Red River Valley potatoes are typically harvested between September and November. A hotline hosted by North Dakota State University provides forecast information that helps growers anticipate and minimize the risk of late blight, as well as providing current information on other pest and disease threats.

Rerick reports that the hotline is a useful resource for growers in the valley, who also share information online about areas where potatoes are at risk for late blight. Sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection, the NDSU Blightline draws on forecast information from the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network, computer analysis, and the expertise of plant pathologists and an extension specialist from the university. Although the hotline also provides growers with information on other diseases and insect threats, Rerick remarks that pest issues are minimal in the Red River Valley, thanks in large part to the region’s harsh winters.

Weather can complicate the Red River Valley harvest, though. High heat can delay the harvest, as ‘hot’ potatoes don’t last nearly as long in storage, and excessive rains can likewise keep harvesters out of the fields. At the same time, Rerick explains that the valley potato harvest is a race against the clock, because “if we have a frost, that will just wreck the potatoes, and they will rot.”

FRESH FORUM
What is the toughest challenge facing the potato industry?

Chuck Curl, RPE, Inc.
It’s probably moving the volume we have and giving an adequate return to the grower. When we have depressed markets, we need to make sure prices are strong enough to pay growers what they need to make a profit.

Mike Rerick, NoKota Packers, Inc.
I think you have to go back to transportation. We talk with potato growers all over the country, and I don’t think it matters what area of the country you’re in: there are transportation issues everywhere.

Chris Wada, Wada Farms
Changing consumers—we talk about the millennial generation and how it represents a larger population than Baby Boomers. There’s just so much communication media and so many products and messages out there—it’s easy to get overwhelmed and always look for what’s new and exciting or trending. It’s just a matter of finding the right variety and pack style, etc. that fits the customer—‘one size fits all’ is a scary business plan.

Red River Valley growers specialize in reds, with the Red Norland ranking as the region’s top variety. Yellow potatoes are also prominent in the valley, and the Russet Norkotah is the region’s favored brown-skinned potato. A quarter of the valley’s potatoes go to the fresh market.

While growers in other regions have devoted considerable energy to developing new varieties in recent years, Rerick continues to look to red and dark red Norlands as reliably strong performers, which store well, are disease-resistant, and visually appealing to consumers. And since demand for red potatoes has been on the rise the last several years, the future looks good for the Red River Valley—and for potatoes in general, according to Rerick.

“We’re not going to make anymore land, so the farmers who are growing potatoes and other crops are always going to be in demand,” he reasons. “If you look at what you’re paying per pound on a potato, it’s one of the cheapest foods out there for what you get in nutrients.” Demand aside, Rerick anticipates a clear relationship between rapid global population growth and increasing demand for efficient, nutrient-rich crops like potatoes.

Although demand for potatoes has been healthy and is likely to remain so, in Rerick’s view, growers in the valley face increasing transportation problems as they try to get their potatoes to market. The North Dakota oil boom has vastly diminished the supply of trucks and rail car access to potato grower-shippers and other agricultural producers, as well as heightening competition for rail access.

Midwest
One of North Dakota’s longstanding competitors in the potato industry, Wisconsin is the leading potato-growing state east of the Mississippi. Russets, round whites, round reds, yellow flesh potatoes, and purple and blue spuds are grown in the Badger State. Planting begins in late April or early May with harvest between mid-August and October.

Chuck Curl, sales operations manager at RPE, Inc. in Bancroft, WI, recognizes and appreciates the favorable weather the Midwest usually provides during the growing and harvesting season. “One of the best growing years we had was a few years ago,” Curl recollects, “where we had ample sunshine—as a matter of fact, an incredible amount of sunshine—and it never really got much above the upper eighties during the days. In the evenings it would stay relatively mild, in the upper sixties. So with proper water, those are the perfect temperatures for our potatoes.”

Wisconsin potatoes are also relatively free of pests, according to Curl. However, as in other regions, growers must remain vigilant in identifying and combating late blight. Curl also describes several weather-related defects that threaten Midwestern potatoes, such as pressure cracks caused by excessive heat, and ‘hollow heart,’ which results from too-rapid growth.

A major challenge in the past year or so, however, has been transportation. “We’re seeing at peak times during the year an inadequate capacity supply in transportation,” Curl explains, “meaning we don’t have enough trucks to haul the product to the marketplace. We’re trying to utilize more rail, but there’s still a tremendous demand for truck transportation to make sure we can get the spuds to the marketplace.” Curl adds that equipment shortages have led to freight rate increases, and the higher cost of transportation has meant higher costs for consumers.

Curl’s outlook for the potato industry is bright, especially with strong consumer demand for organic potatoes and the specialty varieties that RPE has been working hard to develop—for instance, Ruby Sensations, Honey Golds, and a medley pack of smaller potatoes sold under RPE’s “Tasteful Selections” line.

Curl acknowledges that many consumers are losing interest in russets, but points out they’re attracted to reds, yellows, purples, and fingerlings: “The potato is a staple on many dinner plates and it’s also very important in the foodservice industry. As we develop more and different varieties in the potato segment, I don’t see the consumer moving away from potatoes—I think they’ll always be a viable vegetable when it comes to consumer preferences. I’m optimistic about the future.”

Sustainable Measures
Although Wada believes a commitment to sustainability is inherent to some extent in the successful management of a family farm—“if you’re not sustainable in reducing inputs and protecting soil health, it’s not going to be to your benefit in the future”—he speaks with pride of Wada Farms’ innovative green measures. In fall 2014, Wada Farms introduced an eco-friendly, recyclable bag manufactured from up to 25 percent potato starch.

Wada foresees greater cooperation within the potato industry in the future, particularly from a promotional standpoint: “It’s always going to be competitive, but it feels like things are shifting more towards understanding that we’re stronger together,” he says. “And at the end of the day, we are all trying to raise our families and supply potatoes.”

Over in Wisconsin, RPE values sustainability highly, as do many of its customers. Walmart and Costco, both RPE customers, are particularly interested in the company’s environmental protection efforts and are eager to encourage them. As one example, Curl reports that RPE and other Wysocki family companies utilize recycling programs and crop rotation to minimize waste.

Concluding Thoughts
Although U.S. demand may fluctuate, many growers report it has remained flat or declined in recent years, attributable perhaps to a loss of consumer interest in russet potatoes. Growers have responded by growing and marketing an increasing variety of specialty potatoes, including reds, golds, purples, and fingerlings and an ever-increasing array of fresh-cut and grab-and-go potato dishes. Consumer preferences may be changing and varieties proliferating, but Americans still dig potatoes.

Image: iStock

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