Stanger makes a similar observation, finding “receivers are taking out rail sidings because many don’t want to hold so much inventory. Rail is cheaper than trucking, but there are other factors—such as speed of delivery—that can outweigh the added cost.”
Challenges and Competition
Whether it’s competition from other foods or other regions, potato growers must be keenly aware of timing and market trends to stay successful. For Art Peterson, president of Peterson Bros. River Valley Farms, Inc. in Big Lake MN, the challenge is from other states. “When we start our harvest at the end of July, we’re competing with Texas potatoes. Wisconsin begins about a week after us, then there’s always the challenge of finding enough labor.”
The issue of labor is on everyone’s mind. “With low unemployment, workers have other options,” remarks Stanger. “Minimum wage is on the rise but crop prices are hovering where they were 20 years ago.” As for competition, Stanger sees it on two fronts: “In Idaho, besides competing against each other, we’re competing against other states. We’re also competing against alternatives to potatoes; some consumers are avoiding carbohydrates altogether, even though the American Heart Association has given potatoes its blessing.”
Canadians are dealing with the same obstacles. “Potato consumption is down in Canada due to smaller families and changing tastes for items like kale, quinoa, and other grains,” says Mills. “We’re constantly using social media to promote recipes and the fact that potatoes are high in important nutrients with no more calories than an apple.”
Art Miller, president of Epic Produce LLC in Phoenix, has also been facing some trade challenges. “We have our own label of Colorado-grown russets for export to Mexico, but Mexico has restrictions on importing potatoes because they grow their own,” he explains. And although there are negotiations to open more of the country to U.S. exports, the U.S. presidential election may have an impact.
“Mexican growers feel they need price protection because they hand-harvest potatoes, making them more expensive than American grown, machine-harvested russets. Restrictions enable Mexican growers to keep prices higher, but not so high that it puts them out of reach for Mexican consumers,” Miller says. He also cites other challenges, including “labor, water, and the uncertainty of relations with Mexico under our new president.” Ultimately, he says, “We’re optimistic; we’ve managed to figure it out before.”
ONIONS
French chef Julia Child famously said, “It’s hard to imagine civilization without onions.” Part of the original ‘Paleo diet,’ early growers learned quickly that onions were less perishable than other foods, and could be grown in many soils and climates.
Sweets and More
Onions are generally grouped into three categories: spring green, summer fresh, and fall/winter storage. While pungent, thicker-skinned storage onions account for most production, the success of sweet varieties has contributed to an overall increase in consumption by 20 percent in the last 30 years.
