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EDiTOR
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MaRkET REPORT
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Email address changes/corrections to: brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com or send to Potato Country, PO Box 333, Roberts, ID 83444. Potato Country magazine (ISSN 0886-4780), is published eight times per year and mailed under a standard rate mailing permit at Idaho Falls, Idaho and at additional mailing offices. It is produced by: Columbia Media Group, PO Box 333, Roberts, ID 83444 Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose without the express written permission of Columbia Media Group.
The Idaho Potato Commission cautions people not to be duped by knock-off potatoes.
In its latest TV commercial, the Idaho Potato Commission humorously highlights the growing problem of knock-off potatoes by showcasing imposters peddling imposter spuds – urging viewers to look for the “Grown In Idaho® ” seal. The ad is running nationally on popular networks including TBS, TNT, Food Network, Discovery, HGTV, ID, Animal Planet, and TLC. Additionally, it can be seen on streaming platforms like Discovery+, Hulu Live, and Sling.
View the spot anytime at IdahoPotato.com
Should You Be Drone Spraying?
Story
by Dave Alexander, Publisher
If you’re shopping on Amazon for a new TV, or a new computer or a new-fangled widget you don’t need, chances are good that you read the reviews before smashing the “buy” button. But what if you want to know how well a product works that isn’t intended for mass consumption? Something that doesn’t have 5,000 Amazon reviews.
If you need a new tractor or planter or harvester, you can talk to neighbors and other growers you trust because every farm will have some variation of this equipment. But what about newer technology like drone sprayers? Reading an ad or website will tell you what is does, but if you want to know how drone sprayers actually work in the field, read on.
Speaking at the Montana Seed Potato Seminar in Missoula, Montana, tech enthusiast Willem Kimm gave attendees his real-world experience using an XAG P100 Pro drone sprayer this past season on seed plots at Kimm Seed Potatoes.
why Drones?
Father and son, Jason and Willem Kimm’s potato seed plots are five miles away from their main farm, on the edge
of Bozeman, Montana. Towing a large spray rig on busy roads was always dicey, and spraying by plane risks exposure to neighboring fields and wasn’t even possible on their smallest plot. Jason used a makeshift sprayer he built from a rogueing cart, but it was difficult to run and inefficient.
Drones have better topographical access, are more cost-effective on small plots than large rigs, deliver liquids more accurately with less drift, and can be used for dry fertilizer and even seed. They can also target problem areas, increasing or decreasing application rates on the fly. The capabilities seemed to solve a lot of problems at Kimm Seed, so they made the investment.
Got Time?
The rugged, high altitude-capable XAG drone with an easy-to-clean atomizing disk system checked all the boxes for the Kimms when they went shopping, but there are licensing considerations that may cross one off your list.
The FAA requires three different licenses to fly large commercial drones. Part 107 allows for commercial, nonrecreational flight, Part 137 authorizes
agriculture spraying, and Part 137 Exemption allows for drones over 55 pounds, needed for heavy ag drones.
To get all these certifications, you’ll have to pass written exams and a physical exam, understand weather patterns and fronts, know airspace rules and sectional charts, and understand regulations and aeronautical processes. Suffice it to say, you’ll need time to study before you can fly, and it can take months to get licensed.
in the Field
Kimm Seed uses a trailer with a 10 kw generator to charge batteries when spraying. A total of six batteries are used – two on the drone, two on the charger and two ready to swap in.
But before spraying can start, an aerial map needs to be made and the data needs to be processed. Kimm uses a small DJI drone and PIX4D mapping software for this. There is one Kimm plot close to the Bozeman airport, so documentation has to be filed pre-spray every time they fly in that restricted airspace.
The drone actually pilots itself and controls its own flight from the mapping data, but two people are required to operate large agricultural drones
The XAG P100 Pro drone sprayer used at Kimm Seed Potatoes has a 30-foot spray width. Photo courtesy Kimm Seed Potatoes
Willem Kimm recounts his experience using a drone to spray crops at Kimm Seed Potatoes in Manhattan, Mont., owned by his father, Jason.
and photos
efficiently. One person is batching and filling spray tanks, while the other is swapping batteries, and both people watch the laptop and recalibrate spray rates as needed to ensure what is seen on-screen matches what is seen in the tanks.
The XAG drone holds 13.2 gallons, which is 110 pounds of fluid. Maximum takeoff weight is 255 pounds, and fully loaded, the drone will fly for seven minutes without changing batteries. Spraying at 4 gallons per acre, Kimm has found their drone averages about 30 acres per hour, well below what the manufacturer claims.
Real-world Results
Though slower than planes or ground rigs, the Kimms have found the ease of access to remote fields, flexibility that the drone provides, and accurate sprays with less drift made their drone a wise purchase. They did have to work through a learning curve, FAA compliance and glitchy software at times, as expected with all new technology.
Perhaps the biggest impediment when employing a drone sprayer is the tech itself. For Willem Kimm, a self-proclaimed tech lover, he adapted to his drone intuitively, but if you are someone who isn’t “techy,” you’ll have more significant challenges getting up and running. He recommends getting training from the manufacturer as he knows of people who have crashed their drones when trying to learn on their own.
“We haven’t crashed ours yet,” Kimm said.
Future or Fad?
Drone spraying has certainly found a spot at Kimm Seed Potatoes, but there are issues to keep an eye on for future use.
A commercial drone ban has been talked about in political circles. Chinesemade DJI, in particular, has been accused of spying and collecting geographic data. Kimm doesn’t see a ban happening, but acknowledged it is a possibility.
Better batteries, swarm spraying, and more controlled and more precise spot spraying are already in the works. Five years from now, technology will be completely different, possibly making a
drone bought today obsolete. Technology keeps advancing at a rapid rate, and the possibilities excite and energize young growers.
Kimm envisions a fully autonomous farm one day, operating 24/7. For now,
he’ll keep spraying with their drone and the farm may even invest in another one for the coming season. He said he loves their drone, but there are certainly challenges. If he was rating it on Amazon, he would give it four out of five stars.
English Cream Golden Retrievers with MT AG K9s take a break at the Montana Seed Potato Seminar. These dogs are being trained to sniff out Potato virus Y, but the company has other canines already finding the dreaded virus.
Emily Merk and Nathan Edgar work the Restrain booth in Missoula. Edgar made the long trip from Scotland to speak at the event.
Trevor Walker sells Galileo CupWheel tires from his booth in Montana. The tires are airless and designed to last years with no maintenance.
Big Topics at Big idaho Potato Harvest Meeting
Bill Schaefer
Potatoes,
presidential politics, football and the economy – not necessarily in that order – dominated presentations during the Idaho Potato Commission’s (IPC) annual Big Idaho Potato Harvest Meeting on Nov. 13 in Pocatello.
Economic Conditions
Robert Spendlove, senior economist for Zions Bank, opened the meeting with an overview of economic conditions nationally and regionally.
“Idaho is once again leading the country in population growth,” he said. “We see people continuing to move out of the coastal areas, out of Oregon, Washington, California, New York and the East Coast, moving into the Intermountain West. We are seeing widespread population growth throughout Idaho.”
Spendlove said that Idaho is also leading the country in employment growth. Nationally, employment growth was 1.6 percent, whereas Idaho’s employment growth in October was 3.4 percent. However, the one metric that he found troubling was that southeastern Idaho is struggling with low unemployment numbers and that is holding back potential economic growth.
“I’m cautiously optimistic right now,” he said. “But signs are looking good. All the other indicators in our region are strong.”
Wrapping up his presentation, Spendlove said that “the United States economy continues to be the envy of the world. And within the U.S. economy, we’re lucky enough to be in the strongest region in the entire economy.”
Potato Market
Kim Breshears, chief marketing officer for Potatoes USA, focused on global changes impacting the potato industry and Mexico’s expanding market for U.S.
fresh potatoes.
“The demand for potatoes across the globe is extraordinary right now,” she said, noting that during the past 10 years, there has been a 55 percent increase in global export of French fries.
“If you look at Belgium, specifically, as we look back over the last 30 years, their growth has been extraordinary,” she said. “A 1,500 percent increase in the usage and processing of potato out of Belgium. They really have been the dominant player in the global market.”
According to Breshears, this increasing demand has resulted in Belgium and the Netherlands, two major French fry exporting countries, searching for new locations to grow and process potatoes.
“Belgium has really kind of topped out,” she said. “It’s really difficult for them to find more land to grow. There’s a lot of processing facilities in Belgium that are looking for new places to grow.”
Breshears also pointed to China and India as developing markets that could challenge the U.S. export market.
“In the last two years, China has become a net exporter of potatoes. They used to import a lot of potatoes to meet their demand, but they’ve increased their production facilities and capabilities a lot and now their imports have drastically decreased,” she said. “Why that matters
from a U.S. perspective is that they are a true formidable competitor in the global marketplace.”
Turning her focus to domestic production, Breshears reported that, “Data from this last year shows that 22 percent of potatoes grown in the U.S. were actually exported. Frozen is the dominant form exported, followed by dehy, fresh and then finished chips.”
According to Breshears, Mexico became the United States’ number one trading partner last year with the removal of its 26-kilometer import zone and opening the entire country to U.S. fresh potatoes.
She said that from 2019 to 2023, exports to Mexico for all formats of potatoes on a fresh weight equivalent basis have increased 70 percent, but fresh potatoes, specifically, have increased 147 percent and that there continues to be untapped potential for greater sales in Mexico.
Politics
In his presentation discussing the results of the presidential election, Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council (NPC), said that polls showed that the main issues for voters were the economy, and immigration and the border.
“I think in terms of what we can
Attendees enjoy a free potato bar after the presentations.
Story and photos by
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BC CERTIFIED SEED POTATO GROWERS
likely expect, and this obviously isn’t an exhaustive list, but tax reform, border security, huge deals,” Quarles said. “And then there’s a lot of focus on President Trump’s statements around using tariffs and what that is going to do to our trade agenda.”
Regarding the outcry over potential tariffs, Quarles cautioned the audience that “having a collective freak out right now is probably not terribly productive. Give them (Trump administration) a chance to start putting these policies in place and see how it goes.”
He expects the new administration to curb regulatory overreach by the federal government, specifically the Environmental Protection Agency and in agricultural labor.
Another issue that continues to confound the potato industry is the ongoing debate over classification of the potato as a vegetable or a grain.
“We’ve been fighting this battle under this dietary guidelines panel for several years now.” Quarles said. “Ultimately, as everything in Washington, D.C. or nearly everything, the final decisions are going to be political. It’s two secretaries of federal departments, the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Health and Human Services. They’re the ones who are going to make the final decision.”
Another major issue is Congressional inaction for a new Farm Bill. The 2018 Farm Bill expired in 2013 and Congress has extended the 2018 legislation twice since then. Quarles compared the lack of a new farm bill to Congressional inertia with other legislation such as the highway transportation bill.
“We have been telling folks, we need a farm bill, we need a farm bill now,” he said. “It would be a terrible thing for the farm bill if we get stuck in a similar cycle and we’re sitting here 10 years from now in 2034 fighting really intense global battles with the tools of 2018. It’s not going to end well for American agriculture and certainly not for the potato industry.”
Speaking about the new administrations in Mexico and the U.S., Quarles wasn’t sure what to expect.
“Very much a populist,” he said of Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president. “Clearly wants to kind of defend their
Jamey Higham, Idaho Potato Commission president and CEO, speaks about the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and its one-year contract extension with ESPN.
Kam Quarles, National Potato Council CEO, reviews the election results and the issues facing the potato industry in 2025.
domestic food production. And that has impact, obviously, on biotech corn. That’s a big dispute with the U.S. and Mexico. It remains to be seen how President Trump will deal with President Scheinbaum. That will be an interesting series of negotiations and there may be some fireworks around that, I’m not sure.”
Potato Promotions
Jamey Higham, president and CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission, concluded the day’s presentations by discussing the Big Idaho Potato Truck’s visit to Hawaii for three weeks this year. The trip represented the 50th state that the truck has traveled to spreading the message of Idaho potatoes.
Moving on to college football, Higham told his audience that the Famous Idaho
the American Diabetes Association.
“Our partnership with the American Diabetes Association is still gaining momentum,” he said. “We spent the time and the resources to work with the ADA, and we can now say that Idaho potatoes are a healthy source of carbs for those people living with diabetes and prediabetes. I think that’s a big win not just
for Idaho – and we did this just for Idaho – but it is also a big win for the potato industry in the United States.”
Higham said that the IPC is making big plans for the 2025 celebration of National French Fry Day on July 11. The IPC is partnering with Major League Eating for a French fry eating contest to be televised on the Food Network.
Kim Breshears, Potatoes USA chief marketing officer, discusses global markets impacting the U.S. potato industry.
PRECiSiOn aG ESSEnTialS
BuYERS' GuiDE
agri-Stor Company
agri-stor.com
Agri-Star
Control Panel
The Agri-Star Control Panel is essential to having control over every aspect of the storage environment. Its adaptability to each application makes it a great fit for many post-harvest products in storage. The panel is perfect for potatoes, onions and even honeybees. The panel controls everything from humidity and refrigeration to heat, airflow, temperature and carbon dioxide levels.
Users will have peace of mind with 24/7 access via an intuitive app. When paired with Gellert’s climate control equipment, the Agri-Star Control Panel is unmatched in its ability to extend the life and quality of products in storage.
Ecorobotix
ecorobotix.com
ARA Sprayer
Minimize phytotoxicity, increase yield, reduce manual labor and save up to 95 percent on inputs with the Ecorobotix AIpowered ultra-high precision sprayer. The ARA sprayer precisely applies plant protection products and fertilizers in a wide range of different crops.
A 2023 study to review the effectiveness of weed control with ARA in onions showed a 78.9 percent savings on herbicides compared to broadcast treatments. The treatments with ARA also showed an overall effectiveness of weed elimination of 92 percent with fewer applications compared to broadcast while simultaneously preserving the integrity of the crops. Weed control with ARA also showed higher yields compared to conventional applications. While this study showed herbicide savings of around 80 percent, other studies have shown savings of up to 98 percent. The savings depend on a variety of factors like chosen treatment, weed density and other field conditions.
Fox Packaging foxbag.com
Bags
Fox Packaging delivers innovative and sustainable packaging solutions tailored to the precision agriculture needs of onion growers. Designed to enhance operational efficiency and resource optimization, these packaging options integrate seamlessly with advanced automation technology.
The Fox Fresh Mesh Bag supports optimal respiration for extended shelf-life, while the Fox Leno Bag ensures durability for bulk packing. The Fox Fresh Mesh Wicketed Bag, also compatible with automated wicketed baggers, combines high breathability with precision-engineered materials, guaranteeing consistent performance and excellent merchandising potential.
Fox Packaging’s solutions, paired with automation-ready designs, support the goals of precision agriculture by reducing waste, improving efficiency and maintaining product quality.
Wicketed Baggers
Fox Solutions’ Single and Dual Wicketed Baggers, paired with Newtec weighing and checkweighing technology, revolutionize precision in packaging for potato growers. These systems have demonstrated improved labor efficiency by reducing workdays from six to four per week, achieving a 33 percent savings in labor hours while maintaining high throughput. With speeds averaging 60 bags per minute on 5-lb bags, the baggers ensure consistent, precise filling across various weights and sizes, reducing bottlenecks and optimizing operations.
Integrated checkweighers further enhance performance by minimizing product giveaway, reducing waste and increasing profitability – all while preserving resources. Whether packing 5-lb or 10-lb bags, these automated systems deliver reliable and consistent results, making them an essential tool for precision agriculture.
Greentronics
Yield Monitor
Greentronics yield monitors are designed for root crop and vegetable harvesters. The system is built around one or more load cells, which are installed in a conveyor to measure the weight of the crop as it passes on the belt.
Once installed and calibrated, the harvester operator chooses the field name and sets the swath width. The operator does not need to interact with the yield monitor while harvesting.
Growers use yield maps to study and manage variability in their fields and generate report cards on their progress. By applying breakeven points, yield maps can indicate areas with profit and loss and help make decisions about inputs, population density, crop rotation, cover crops, drainage, leveling and so on.
industrial Ventilation inc. (iVi)
ivi-air.com
Imperium Storage Control Panel
IVI’s Imperium storage control panel directs optimal conditions for stored potatoes. Users can precisely control airflow, carbon dioxide, humidity and more and easily retrieve valuable historical data to aid in setting parameters. This powerful system for potato storage protection offers straightforward operation right at the user’s fingertips. The IVI app allows for off-site monitoring and control.
The Imperium storage control panel is made in the U.S.A. under the supervision of the engineers behind the innovations. The company’s eye is always on improvement and technological advances, driven by growers’ needs in working with IVI’s service and sales team.
PRECiSiOn aG ESSEnTialS BuYERS' GuiDE
lockwood Manufacturing
lockwoodmfg.com
774 Harvester
Lockwood’s new 774 Harvester is designed with today’s higherlevel harvesting capacities in mind. The Lockwood 774 Harvester handles more volume by incorporating a wider rear cross and side elevator with numerous cleaning table options. Plus, the higher capacity full swing boom makes truck loading more efficient. The dual Lockwood high-efficiency fans increase airflow using less power. Lockwood’s 774 Harvester boasts excellent visibility for the operator along with a 10-inch touchscreen control system with joystick control. Optional wheel drive and vine choppers can be added to complete the system. Take harvesting to the next level and save time and money with the Lockwood 774 Harvester.
logan Farm Equipment
loganpotato.com
2024 Logan Evenflow Tub
The 2024 Logan Evenflow Tub offers a number of new upgrades with innovative designs for metering a consistent, continuous flow to downstream planting or post-harvest equipment.
The 54-inch elevating conveyor and 36-inch to 72-inch discharge belt sizes offer a large range of throughputs while utilizing new features like efficient electric drives for conveyors and externally mounted carry-up and carry-back rollers for easy replacement. The machine has many options for customizing to each operation and is designed heavy for long-lasting use; Logan didn’t spare the iron on this one. For growers looking for a high quality machine priced very competitively, the Logan Evenflow Tub is the answer.
Restrain restrain.io
Ethylene Sprout Control & Seed Treatment
Restrain is the manufacturer of a unique generator that converts ethanol into ethylene gas for the control of sprouts in potatoes and onions. Used in over 40 countries, the technology has been proven effective to control sprouts in long-term storages. The process is safe for storage managers, leaves no residue and is an effective sprout control for potatoes, onions, shallots and garlic.
Restrain also offers a seed potato treatment called Accumulator that increases the stem numbers, yield and profit. The product has recently gained an organic label in Canada and is working on an organic label in the U.S.
2025 NPC WASHINGTON SUMMIT
FEBRUARY 24-28, 2025
HILTON WASHINGTON, D.C. AT NATIONAL MALL AND THE WHARF, WASHINGTON, D.C.
STANDING UP FOR POTATOES ON CAPITOL HILL
NPC’s annual Washington Summit provides a forum for potato industry members to discuss, define, and advocate for the policy priorities impacting their businesses and protecting their ability to farm.
• Hear from the nation’s top political and policy experts
• Welcome NPC’s 2025 officers and grower leaders
• Meet with members of Congress representing potato-growing states and districts
• ...and unite as an industry in Standing Up for Potatoes on Capitol Hill!
PRECiSiOn aG ESSEnTialS
BuYERS' GuiDE
Symach
symach.nl/en
Palletizing Equipment
Symach has a long history of palletizing potatoes and innovating to provide customized modular designs to guarantee a high stacking rate with maximum flexibility. From 50-pound bulk and paper master bags to complex Octabins, Symach handles all customers’ palletizing needs.
The company also offers options to stabilize the pallet at the end of the line, including wrapping and double stacking, and palletizing within the margins of the pallet to ensure ease of loading during the shipping process.
Tristeel Manufacturing tristeelmfg.com
Automatic Dual Tote Bag/Bin Filler
The Tristeel automatic dual tote bag or bin filler saves labor and increases plant efficiency by utilizing programmable logic controls (PLC) and filling with no or limited operator involvement via weight with floor scales or product height in the bag or box. Put two empty bags on the machine, turn it to automatic, and the machine will fill both stations. The machine can be run in manual mode, as well.
Tristeel has been making these machines for 50 years and has enjoyed an excellent track record.
When it comes to reliability, speed, consistent stacking and secure pallet wrapping, Verbruggen’s VPM 10-14 series of palletizers have all of the bases covered. Specializing in stacking difficult products (like potatoes), Verbruggen offers four-sided electric compression collars, articulating in-feed conveyors for maximum efficiency, and an enclosed stacking chamber with top and bottom compression to ensure a perfect stack every time. Verbruggen’s “combi” units allow for high-speed stacking of boxes and bags with the same machine. Users can switch between products with the touch of a button. Automatic pallet de-stacking and slip sheet placing, inline high-speed wrappers and standalone wrappers are all available options. New in 2023, Verbruggen also offers bin filling for potato applications. Verbruggen offers stateside service, parts and after-sales support. Engineering, installation and commissioning are all performed directly by Verbruggen specialists.
Continuous Ventilation Concepts
By John Klimes, Product Quality Specialist, Agri-Stor Companies
In the early days of potato storage, ventilation systems were designed with enough air to allow for light air exchange and application of products like CIPC. These systems were a step up from natural convection of heat rising through the pile. Natural convection piles were kept to a minimum size to allow heat to escape. With the advent of crop protection products, it became necessary to use mechanical methods of forcing air through the piles.
This mechanical ventilation allowed potatoes to be stored in larger piles, providing a more efficient use of storage space. More recent applications of the ventilation system are intended to also control climate in the storage to maintain the quality of the potatoes.
Systems should be designed to remove field heat, remove the heat of respiration, remove carbon dioxide, supply appropriate humidity, apply crop protection products, and maintain the ideal storage climate for potatoes with a balance of conditioned air to all parts of the storage.
Proper and appropriate system design is critical for all these criteria to be met.
Research in the United States and Europe has concluded that continuous low-rate ventilation with high humidity provides the best climate for potatoes and reduces risk within the storage when the system is properly designed. In contrast, systems that operate intermittently allow heat to build and allow for increased carbon dioxide. They also disrupt cooling fronts and place the storage at high risk for condensation and can increase transpiration loss. These, as well as less upfront equipment expenses, are the critical arguments for continuous ventilation. However, it also has been determined that an effort to continuously ventilate at a rate that exceeds 1,180 feet per minute can increase back pressure in a system and cause humidity to be dropped out of the air. The question then is what is the ideal ventilation rate?
With continuous ventilation, the fans run constantly, decreasing the need
for excessive ventilation equipment. The amount of ventilation air needed to remove the heat of respiration for potatoes stored between 45 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit is about 8 cubic feet per minute (cfm) per ton. Ventilation needed to remove field heat requires an additional 10 cfm per ton. If you add these two together, the total need for ventilation in a continuous ventilation system is 18 cfm per ton. This will allow for a complete air exchange in a storage to occur approximately every two to three minutes when maximum fresh air is available.
Following the removal of field heat,
the need for air exchange is reduced to removing the heat of respiration. To determine the exact ventilation rate, we ask the potatoes. We measure the difference in temperature from the bottom of the pile to the top (Delta T) and monitor the carbon dioxide levels. This combination is also the reason that variable frequency drives are effective in storages over time, as they allow for ventilation to be reduced or increased as needed.
To control the climate in a potato storage, the fan output is not the only determining factor.
The entire system must be designed,
built and maintained to specifications. The fans are the heartbeat of the system, but the entire system must be designed to deliver the air provided in an even and balanced manner. The plenum, ducts, duct outlets, return air openings, exhaust outlets, fresh air intake, cell size, cooling coil size, and any other obstacle that the air passes through must be sized appropriately to ensure proper and even distribution of conditioned air.
Overbuilding a system for a “just in case” scenario seems like a good decision, but it can lead to logistical issues and add significant construction cost. If you build a 30 cfm building and all systems are designed correctly, what are the concerns? Yes, you can exchange air faster and you may be able to store other crops that require more air. However, one logistical concern is the ability to slow ventilation to that 8 cfm without harming motors. You could block fans like in the old days before the existence of variable frequency drives, but this leads to the next concern: when running refrigeration, a minimum velocity is needed to prevent icing. If the coils are designed for the 30 cfm system, the fans would have to be put back into service and over-ventilation can’t be avoided. And a third concern is slowing fans to appropriately apply crop protection products. Most crop protection products must be applied at a significantly lower air velocity that normal ventilation settings because the product needs to “remain” in the pile. To
rush these applications with excessive air velocity can lead to uneven distribution in the building.
If you are considering building storage facilities, do a lot of homework. Look at the designs and know your goals. Ask a
lot of questions. Make your salesperson squirm a bit. Dig deep to learn what you don’t already know. Decisions that you make now – during the planning process – can affect your bottom line and product marketability for the life of the structure.
Our isolated northern location along with our group of 10 experienced growers have been producing exceptional seed potatoes with increased energy and the lowest possible disease levels for over 60 years.
Our longevity and historical performance have made us a valued resource and seed potato supplier to growers across North America and the world.
With over 100 varieties including main crop and specialty selections, we invite you to give us a call to discuss how we can help you make this growing season the best one yet.
Contact us to discuss how we can help make this year’s crop the best it can be.
Potatoes Top Menus as interest Grows in Diverse, Global Flavors
By Tiffany Kocir, Global Foodservice Marketing Manager, Potatoes USA
Potatoes remained a top menu performer in 2024, underscoring their enduring appeal to consumers of all ages and taste preferences.
America’s favorite vegetable appeared on more than eight in 10 U.S. menus, according to MenuTrends data by Datassential.
The report also shows that while potatoes remain a popular menu item, foodservice operators can take advantage of the spud’s versatility by leaning into trending flavors and dishes and other diverse offerings to appeal to even more consumers.
where Potatoes appear Most Often on the Menu
Potatoes are versatile, complementing many dishes and flavor profiles across different cultural backgrounds, which is one reason they appear on the majority of menus across the U.S., no matter the region. Over the past decade, potatoes have seen the most growth on fast casual menus while remaining mostly steady across other segments. Below is the breakdown of 2024 menu penetration by foodservice segment:
• Fine dining: 90.5%
• Casual: 88.2%
• Midscale: 85.6%
• Quick service: 73.7%
• Fast casual: 71.7%
Potatoes appear most often on entrée and side menus, usually as part of a combination or multi-protein item with chicken, hot sandwiches and egg dishes. And while they are less common among appetizers, they still appear on nearly half of all appetizer menus.
new and Trending Dishes and Flavors
While traditional American fare restaurants account for more than one-third of potato offerings, there is opportunity to appeal to a broader range of consumers, especially younger generations, with more global flavors and trending dishes. For example, Gen Z (ages 18-28) has shown a stronger affinity for sauces and flavors traditional to global cuisines than other generations, including classic Mexican flavors like chamoy and Tajín, as well as Asian cuisine staples like gochujang, black vinegar, eel sauce and ponzu. This younger cohort is also drawn to spicy flavors such as chili crisp, diablo sauce, Nashville hot and more, suggesting that leaning into complex flavors that add depth and interest to a food item may be worth exploring when innovating menu items.
As for when to menu new potato items, March historically has had the most chain restaurant introductions featuring
potatoes, but the cooler fall season also has a high number of introductions, likely due to potatoes making the perfect warm and hearty option when the weather starts to turn.
appeal of loaded Fries
Loaded fries are popular in 2024, with top-performing recent introductions featuring fries with a wide variety of proteins, cheeses, sauces and other toppings to create indulgent offerings. Chicken, bacon and brisket were among the most popular proteins; shredded, queso and melted cheese were the most popular cheeses; and ranch, sour cream, pico de gallo and chili were the most popular sauces.
As the most prevalent potato dish on menus, fries continue appealing to all consumers. The most loved types of fries across generations are classic, curly, seasoned, home fries and crinkle cut. Rich, indulgent truffle fries are most popular among Gen Z and millennials in 2024, while more old-traditional fries like cottage fries appeal to Gen X and baby boomers. Millennials had the highest affinity for the most fry varieties.
Trending fries in 2024 included globally inspired varieties like Greek fries, Italian fries and carne asada fries, as well as topped varieties like truffle fries, loaded fries and buffalo chicken fries. These trends represent an opportunity to explore more decadent and complex fry dishes to keep appealing to younger consumers.
Other Generational Trends
Several of Gen Z’s most loved potato dishes qualify as “comfort food,” with items like mashed potatoes, loaded mashed potatoes and garlic mashed potatoes all making the list. Potato items that traditionally feature additional flavors and ingredients (loaded baked potato, potato skins, twicebaked potatoes, etc.) are also well-liked by this generation. This indicates an opportunity for crossover with older generations, who prefer classic potato dishes.
MenuTrends by Datassential is the foodservice industry’s most accurate system for tracking trends at commercial and non-commercial restaurants. The primary U.S. Chains & Independents database is comprised of 4,800 restaurants which are balanced to the U.S. restaurant landscape. Data is reported using two key metrics, penetration and incidence across millions of menu items to identify patterns and forecast future trends. Please contact Potatoes USA at media@potatoesusa. com for more information.
Colorado Seed Potato Crop
By Andrew Houser, Colorado Potato Certification Service
We had a mix of a cool spring, warm July and a very rainy August. Fortunately, the rainfall turned into sunny days in time for harvest. Certified seed growers began killing vines in late July and continued through early and mid-August, limiting potential spread of virus by late-season aphid flights. Overall, crop yields hovered around average.
This year, we will be taking a closer look at using direct tuber testing to supplement our post-harvest test. We used this test on the dormant variety Canela Russet in 2023 with promising results. Our post-harvest test will be taking place on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, again this year.
Colorado certified seed potato acreage was up from 7,836 acres in 2023 to 8,119 acres in 2024. The 2024 accepted certified acreage after summer field
inspections was 7,679 acres. Rejections were primarily caused by Potato virus Y (PVY)/mosaic and blackleg. Total potato acreage in the San Luis Valley was 50,188, down from 52,278 acres in 2023.
The top six certified varieties in Colorado are Russet Norkotah selections (1,716 acres), Reveille Russet (1,413 acres), Canela Russet (686 acres), Soraya (478 acres), Teton Russet (340 acres) and Centennial Russet (310 acres). An official 2024 certified seed directory is posted online at potatoes.colostate.edu/ programs/potato-certification-service/ crop-directory.
All seed lots imported into Colorado are required to undergo a post-harvest test, a lab test for PVY-N, and a lab test for late blight to comply with the Colorado late blight quarantine.
Seed Growers:
RUSSET VARIETIES:
Russet Norkotah S3
Russet Norkotah S8
Rocky Mountain Russet
Silverton Russet
Rio Grande Russet
Canela Russet
Mesa Russet
Mercury Russet
Fortress Russet
Crimson King
COLORED VARIETIES:
Columbine Gold
Colorado Rose
Rio Colorado
Red Luna
Purple Majesty
Masquerade
Mountain Rose
Vista Gold
Zapata Seed Company
Worley Family Farms
SLV Research Center
San Acacio Seed
Salazar Farms
Rockey Farms, LLC
Pro Seed
Price Farms Certified Seed, LLC
Palmgren Farms, LLC
Martinez Farms
La Rue Farms
H&H Farms
G&G Farms
Bothell Seed
Allied Potato
Potato, barley and alfalfa fields grow under center pivot irrigation in the San Luis Valley, Colo.
idaho Seed Potato Crop
By Alan Westra, Idaho Crop Improvement Association
Seed potato acreage eligible for final certification totaled 32,140 acres in 2024, a decrease of 6 percent from the previous season. Not including proprietary genetics, this acreage represents a total of 114 varieties, selections and advanced clones. The top 10 varieties account for approximately 75 percent of the total acres, with Russet Burbank (all strains), Russet Norkotah
(all strains), Ranger Russet (all strains), Clearwater Russet and Alturas continuing as the dominant varieties.
Crop yield for 2024 is generally reported as average, primarily due to a cold spring. Frost was also an issue in some areas. Growing conditions improved going into July, and the remainder of the season could be described as hot and dry. The 2024
seed cutters
3- 2014 Better Built 72” 400 3ph 2002 Better Built 72” treaters
1995 Spudnik 550 30” BC Elev. /48’ boom 3ph Remote
1992 Spudnik 525 36” BC Elev./48’ boom 3ph 230 volt Remote
1998 Double L 831 36” BC Elev./49’ boom 3ph Elec remote
1991 Double L 813 30” BC Elev./ 49’ boom 3ph
1985 Double L 811 30” BC Elev./ 49’Boom 3ph
2004 Milestone 36” All belt Arcing / 48’ boom 3ph remote
2000 Wemco 36” All belt Arcing / 49’boom 3ph All HYD remote
scooPers
Spudnik 100 24” 3ph
Spudnik 1000 Scoop trailer
BulK Beds/BoXes/ self unloading
2001 Double L 801 20’ Electric
1989 Double L 802 22’ PTO only
1989 Double L 802 22’ Electric
2000 Spudnik 2100 20’ Electric
1996 Spudnik 2100 20’ Electric
1983 Logan 20B Electric 20’ crossovers/windrowers
2- 1996 Double L 851 36” bed L & RH 4 rows
2009 Lockwood 554 LH 4 row
2005 Lockwood 5000 RH 4 row
2008 Spudnik 6140 LH 4 row
2019 Spudnik 6140 32” rows R&L discharge
harvest season was also warm, but digging conditions were generally excellent.
Seed health is similar to last season. The number of seed lots with visually detectable levels of Potato virus Y (PVY) during field inspections increased to 7.9 percent. Blackleg levels were typical, and there were no detections of potato leafroll or bacterial ring rot again this year. Seed quality going into storage is reported as excellent. Generally, the 2024 seed potato crop can be described as having an excellent shape and size profile.
A complete listing of the seed potato crop is available in the 2024 Idaho Certified Seed Potato Directory at www. idahocrop.com. Hard copies of the directory can be obtained by contacting the Idaho Crop Improvement Association Idaho Falls office.
Harvesters
2019 Double L 953 Std Bed 4 row
2018 Double L 7340 36” bed 4 row
2016 Double L 973 36” bed 4 row
2002 Double L 873 36” bed 4 row
Grimme GT1700 2 row w/ multi-sep.
2012 Lockwood 474H 4 row
2005 Lockwood 474H 4 row
2001 Spudnik 5625 36” bed 2 row collectors & stingers/PuPs
1996 STI 30” x 70’ 480 volt 3ph straigHt conveyors
5- Spudnik 1205 42” x 40’ 3ph
5- Spudnik 1205 36” x 40’ 3ph
3- 2000 DL 877 36”/ 40’ 3ph
5- 1998 DL 809 30”/38’ 3ph
2000- DL 809 30” /40’’ 3ph
5- Milestone 30” x 30’ 3ph
siZer only
1995 Spudnik 925 72” Acorns 480 volt 3ph
Kerian 60”W x 6’ L, 3- adjustable lanes
1” to 5”, smooth rolls
Kerian 60”W x 10’ L, 4 adjustable lanes 1” to 4.5”, rib rolls
dirt eliminator witH & witHout siZer
2005 Milestone MSDSE84 belt Elev. Finger rolls dirt & sizing, split picking Cross out conv.
2011 Spudnik 96” 990 BC Elev. Reverse roll table sizing table split picking cross out conv.
2004 Spudnik 995 DES 72” Q A dirt & Size roll tables, split picking 230 volt 3ph
2002 Spudnik 72” DE belt elev
2017 Milestone 96” 480 3phase
2005 Double L 878 72” 3phase
2006 Spudnik 995 72”Finger rollers, ellis table, Belt Chain table 230 Volt 3ph rocK/clod/air eliminators
2012 Harriston 3240 CH fingers peg belt blower sizing fingers 480 V 3ph
2002 Harriston 240 CH Ellis table peg belt blower 230 V 3ph even flows/ surge HoPPer/croP cart
1996 Double L 860 600cwt 42” Elevator 36” discharge 3ph
2013 Mayo 455 Surge Hopper 300cwt 3ph, 2 belt stingers
1994 Spudnik 1800 600cwt 48” Elevator 36’ discharge 3ph
1988 Spudnik 1800 525cwt 30” Elevator 30” discharge 3ph
wareHouse & misc.
2017 Alliston 48” x 8’ rolling table
Alliston Flume 48’’Wx13’L SS destoner Kwik Locs
Ag Pack weigher bagger
Grain Treater USC LP2000 with seed wheel
Newhouse 6 row Vine Shredder
Russet Burbanks grow at J&S Farms near Parma, Idaho.
Montana Seed Potato Crop
By Nina Zidack, Montana Seed Potato Certification
The 2024 crop was planted very timely with good planting conditions in May, but got off to a slow start with a cool June. July was hotter than average, but temperatures moderated in August and crop growth was very good. The northwest growing areas of Montana experienced both warmer and drier conditions throughout the growing season. Growers reported excellent quality with strong average yields and a nice size profile.
Montana’s seed potato growers took advantage of the mild autumn conditions and completed harvested by the second week of October. Most areas in the state received a nice soaking rain the third week of September, which set everyone up with perfect harvest conditions.
There was no frost damage in any of our growing areas.
Montana certified 10,957 acres for the 2024 crop, which is down 3.4 percent from 2023. While Russet Burbank is still the most widely grown variety, the total acreage continues to decrease. At 3,102 acres, it is 7.5 percent less than 2023 and has dropped 19.5 percent over five years. Conversely, Clearwater Russet acreage has increased 15 percent to 2,197 acres in the past year and acreage has jumped 85 percent in five years. Umatilla Russet ranks third at 1,366 acres, and Ranger Russet acreage is fourth at 1,021 acres. Alturas rounds out the top five processing russets at 601 acres. Overall, Russet Norkotah selections are down 11.3 percent to 1,254 acres. The
Texas 278 line is the most widely grown at 599 acres. Colorado 3 and Texas 296 have similar production at 241 and 219 acres, respectively, followed by Texas 112 (195 acres).
Specialty varieties including red, purple, yellow and fingerlings make up a small portion of Montana seed potato production at 289 acres. Chip varieties are a minor component of total production, with Lamoka and Atlantic at a combined acreage of 210.
In April, Montana will have a new seed potato certification director. Aritra Roy Choudhury has joined the Montana program and will take over the reins upon my retirement at the end of March.
Oregon Seed Potato Crop
By Tami Brown, Oregon Seed Certification Service
Oregon Seed Certification Service accepted 3,364 acres of seed potatoes for certification in 2024. This is a steady increase of acres for the last six years and increases our 10-year average to 3,010.
Our season was somewhat similar to 2023 with a fairly good planting start and normal or slightly better on the days with smoke cover. Our southern counties had some issues with late frost, but the crop was able to grow out of it.
For the fourth year in a row, Clearwater Russet has remained the variety with the most acres. The other varieties in the top five include chipper and fresh market varieties.
The bulk of Oregon seed has historically come from Nebraska; however, in 2024, Oregon replanted more of its own seed than was sourced from any other state. Our grower directory has more detailed information and can be found at seedcert. oregonstate.edu.
Oregon has continued to conduct post-harvest testing in the greenhouses at Oregon State University. This process allows us to plant over a wider period and monitor the potatoes closer. All seed in Oregon must have a post-harvest test to be eligible for re-certification.
Seed lots undergo post-harvest testing in a greenhouse at Oregon State University.
washington Seed Potato Crop
By Benita Matheson, Washington State Department of Agriculture
A total of 3,123 acres of seed potatoes entered certification during the 2024 growing season. This is a 197-acre decrease from last year.
Top varieties grown included Ciklamen (348 acres), Russet Burbank (242 acres), Chieftain (241 acres) and other proprietary varieties. A complete report on seed lots is posted at www. agr.wa.gov/services/licenses-permitsand-certificates/plant-permits-and-
certification-programs/seed-potato. The total acres planted include 148 potato varieties ranging in size from partial-acre plots to 65-acre fields. Most seed lots are less than 20 acres and include numbered clones, tablestock, processing and heirloom varieties.
Weather in the northwest part of the state included late-season rains, and the eastern region had dry weather with mild temperatures. Plants maintained
vigor throughout and were healthy on inspection. Harvest weather was mild, overall. Digging was completed around the third week of October. Yields were normal with very good tuber quality and very few oversized tubers.
Washington state certified seed growers submit seed lot samples for the postharvest test that continues in Hawaii.
EVERY POTATO COUNTS
You want the best of both worlds. Speed to deliver maximum capacity and accurate defect detection to maintain consistent quality. Inspect the entire surface and look inside each potato to get the best out of every batch.
If you are attending this year's Potato Expo in Orlando please visit us at booth #1335! We will also be at booth #56 for the WA/OR Potato Conference in Kennewick, WA. More info? Please contact:
John Albert Rowan Parmenter john.albert@ellips.com r.parmenter@ellips.com (206)915-4962 (425)495-3378 www.ellips.com
Potatoes drop onto a conveyor in Washington.
Kerian Sizer
DiSEaSE iDEnTiFiCaTiOn QuiZ
Dr. Jeff Miller, a plant pathologist, is the president and CEO of Miller Research, Rupert, Idaho. He can be contacted by phone: (208) 531-5124; cell: (208) 431-4420; jeff@millerresearch.com
During the holidays (or any time, for that matter), there is nothing more delicious than seeing a nice baked potato cracked open on the plate. But that is the only place I want to see a potato cracked. Some cracked potatoes found during the growing season are the subject of this month’s disease quiz. What was responsible for the deformation of these tubers? 1 2 3 4
Bw Flexible Systems
Presents new Palletizer
BW Flexible Systems recently launched the Symach 3500S. This push-type palletizer is designed to deliver high-speed stacking and palletizing performance for bags, bales, crates and cases. Its stacking cage is built to contain bags within the specified dimensions, reducing and preventing product overhang for a sturdy and stable pallet. According to the company, the machine is intuitive to operate and has a more compact footprint than a robotic palletizer, making it a good fit for tight spaces.
Endura Pro fungicide, a new broad-spectrum fungicide from BASF Agricultural Solutions, is available for purchase for the 2025 crop year.
Endura Pro combines boscalid, the active ingredient found in Endura fungicide, with Revysol fungicide, to tackle early blight and white mold, which threaten yield and quality. In BASF’s field trials conducted across six sites in Idaho and Washington from 2022 to 2023, Endura Pro fungicide delivered greater performance on early blight and white mold versus competitors. Visit agriculture.basf.us.
Photo 1: The tubers in photo 1 were from a potato field just across the road from a field that had been treated with glyphosate. Drift from the glyphosate application was responsible for these symptoms.
Photo 2: These tubers were from the same field as those in photo 1. The difference is that the tubers in photos 2 were closer to the point of glyphosate application and were exposed to a greater degree of drift.
Photo 3: These cracking symptoms were caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, and this disease is known as ring rot. When these tubers were sliced open, decay was present in the vascular ring.
Photo 4: No chemical or pathogen could be linked to the symptoms shown in this photo. This is a severe form of what is called elephant hide. In some cases, these symptoms have been linked to the presence of undecomposed organic matter or high salt content.
POTATOEH
Experience the vigour of the north. With colder winters and long summer days, Alberta Seed Potatoes are the best choice for a higher yielding potato crop.
Ideal climate, profitable results.
Check out the seed directory at albertapotatoes.ca
When you invest in a Western Spud Express® you can rest assured your new trailer has been built to stand up to the rigors the potato industry can dish out. The backbone of the Express is our high tensile steel main frame, treated with our level 4 paint system. Year after year the Spud Express delivers quickly and gently the biggest payloads, along with the highest resale value of any potato trailer on the market!
2024 uS Potato Crop Smaller
USDA estimates that potato growers produced 417.85 million cwt of potatoes during 2024. That is 22.28 million cwt less than the 2023 crop, a 5.1 percent decline. It is 0.4 percent below the five-year average production. Ten of the 13 reporting states posted reduced production in 2024. USDA puts the 2024crop national average potato yield at 453 cwt per acre. That falls 5 cwt short of the 2023 average yield, 458 cwt per acre. USDA made several changes to its June 28 acreage estimates for the various states. The net result was a 13,000 acre reduction in the 2024 planted area, to 928,000 acres. That is 38,000 acres less than growers planted in 2023. At 923,100 acres, the official harvested area fell 11,100 acres short of USDA’s June forecast. In this article, we review the USDA data and explore the implications for the frozen processing and other industry sectors.
Columbia Basin
USDA estimates that Washington and Oregon growers planted a total of 197,000 acres to potatoes in 2024. That is 11,000 acres less than they planted in 2023. USDA reports that Washington growers planted 155,000 acres of potatoes in 2024. That is 5,000 acres more than its June estimate. It left Oregon’s planted area estimate unchanged at 42,000 acres. USDA puts Washington’s average yield at 645 cwt per acre, 15 cwt per acre above the 2023crop yield. It is the state’s second largest yield on record (behind 2010), and it matches the 2020 yield. It is 27 cwt per acre above the five-year average. USDA puts Oregon’s average yield at 625 cwt per acre, up from 620 cwt for the 2023 crop. The combined changes result in a 125.9 million cwt potato crop in 2024. That is 4.39 million cwt less than the region produced in 2023, a 3.4 percent reduction.
idaho
USDA now reports that Idaho growers planted 315,000 acres of potatoes in 2024, which is 10,000 acres less than its June 28 planted area estimate. It is 15,000 acres less than Idaho growers planted in 2023. It estimates the average yield for the 2024 crop at 430 cwt per acre, down from 435 cwt for the 2023 crop. That is 2 cwt above the five-year average yield; however, it is 16 cwt below the long-term trendline. The mid-June frost and late-summer heat caused a lot of size and yield variation in Idaho’s storage crop. USDA puts Idaho’s 2024 potato crop at 135.24 million cwt. That is 8.1 million cwt, or 5.6 percent, less than the 2023 crop.
upper Midwest
Combined production in the upper Midwest is estimated at 65.28 million cwt. That is 8.46 million cwt less than 2023 production, an 11.5 percent decline. USDA puts Wisconsin’s potato crop at 25.08 million cwt. That is 3.27 million cwt, or 11.5 percent, less than
the 2023 crop. Growers abandoned approximately 1,000 acres of potatoes due to consistent rain early in the growing season. The state’s average yield is reported at 380 cwt per acre, down 40 cwt per acre from the 2023 yield. North Dakota growers planted 73,000 acres of potatoes this year. That is 3,000 acres less than they planted in 2023, and it is 1,000 acres less than the USDA reported in June. The agency puts the state’s 2024 yield at 320 cwt per acre, 30 cwt per acre below the 2023 yield. USDA estimates North Dakota’s 2024 potato crop at 23.2 million cwt. That is 3.23 million cwt, or 12.2 percent, less than 2023 production. USDA now reports that Minnesota growers planted 43,000 acres of potatoes in 2024. That is 3,000 acres less than it reported in June. It also is 3,000 acres less than growers planted in 2023. It puts the state’s average yield at 400 cwt per acre, 15 cwt less than the 2023 yield. With those adjustments, Minnesota’s 2024 potato crop is estimated at 17 million cwt. That is 1.97 million cwt less than the state produced in 2023, a 10.4 percent reduction.
Maine
At 18.26 million cwt, USDA’s November crop estimate puts this year’s potato crop 1.46 million cwt above 2023 production, an 8.7 percent increase. USDA increased the state’s planted area from its June estimate by 1,000 acres, to 54,000 acres. Growers harvested 53,700 acres of potatoes in 2024, 1,200 acres more than they harvested in 2023. Favorable spring weather allowed growers to plant a week or two earlier than usual. That was followed by nearly ideal conditions during the entire growing season. USDA puts the state’s yield at 340 cwt per acre. That is 20 cwt more than the 2023 average yield.
Other States
Production in the other six states totaled 73.17 million cwt, down 3.7 percent from 2023 production. USDA puts Colorado’s 2024 potato crop at
Smaller Than Expected
21.25 million cwt. That is 153,000 cwt more than the state produced in 2023, a 0.7 percent increase. Michigan’s potato crop is estimated at 22.22 million cwt, up 3.1 percent from the 2023 crop. USDA puts Nebraska’s 2024 potato crop at 9.93 million cwt. That is 803,000 cwt, or 7.5 percent, less than 2023 production. California’s 2024 potato crop is estimated at 8.99 million cwt, down 931,000 cwt, or 9.4 percent, from the previous year. At 6.67 million cwt, USDA’s Texas potato crop estimate falls 46,000 cwt short of 2023 production. USDA puts Florida’s 2024 potato crop at 4.12 million cwt. That is 30.7 percent less than the state produced in 2023. It is Florida’s smallest potato crop since 1951.
Summary
Though production is down from last year in Idaho and the Columbia Basin, raw-product supplies appear to be more balanced with processor demand than they have been during the past several years. Processing supplies could be tight in Wisconsin. The other Midwest processing states and Maine should have an adequate supply of raw product to run plants at capacity this year.
The table potato supply situation is mixed. Russet and yellow potato supplies are plentiful, though red potato supplies could be tight. Reports suggest that growers in Idaho cut back on russet table potato acreage. Russet table potato production appears to be relatively flat in the Columbia Basin, the San Luis Valley and Texas. However, Wisconsin’s russet table potato supplies are down significantly.
Chip potato supplies appear to be plentiful. Increased chip potato production in Michigan and Maine partially offset reduced storage supplies from Wisconsin. The reported downturn in U.S. potato production may not be enough to support significantly stronger prices. Though open-market prices have stabilized during the past several weeks, as of press time, they remain at or below year-earlier levels.
By Ben Eborn, Publisher, North American Potato Market News
Gaining Global Perspective on Potatoes
By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington
In November, I had the great privilege of traveling to Asia and Europe to see potato production and processing in each region. The week prior to that, I chaired a meeting in Las Vegas
with growers from 12 growing regions of North America. No matter where the growers I interacted with were from, the goals, needs and outlook on the future remained very similar.
Whether it was farmers in India with between four and 70 acres each, or growers in Europe with 20 to 500 hectares, or even those with more than 10,000 acres in North America, growers all wanted to produce the highest yield and quality attainable in their area. I have to admit that I had a North American bias when I left home. But to see what great efforts growers go to in other regions to overcome major obstacles with their climates, soil conditions and logistics, I left with a new respect for what they will do to produce a very high quality product.
For those of you who think the quality in other regions is far less than North America, I challenge you to go see what they are doing in other countries. I saw potatoes being planted with precision in beds with 8 inch spacing and 8 inch rows in India. The seed was being hand cut and was as precise and uniform as any I have seen cut in North America. When looking in their storages, the potatoes had a very good size and were holding very well halfway through their storage season.
I got to talk to 18 growers in India and they could not be more proud of their operations and the potatoes they produce. Those potatoes are being made into frozen potato products at plants that rival anything we have in North America. One specifically about an hour drive outside of Ahmedabad is nearly identical to a plant I toured the summer before last in Alberta, Canada. Both plants annually produce about 450 million pounds of potato products. I was able to sample some of their products and, while the yellow flesh potatoes they use look slightly different, the taste of the finished product was very similar to what we make in North America.
The European portion of the trip was not as hands on. Many thanks to the Spudnik and Grimme Group for hosting me while there. The technology I saw on display at their factory and that of one of the sister company suppliers was as advanced or maybe even more advanced than what we have here. While attending the Interpom potato show for parts of two days, I was able to talk to many other equipment and technology vendors as well as some growers. It is clear they are on the leading edge of technology in the potato industry.
Also present at Interpom were all of the major potato processors in the EU. Walking around and seeing their booths showed that they definitely have more competition than we do here in North America, but also that there is a real competition from each for attracting and maintaining growers.
In the past, you have heard or read my comments on the fact that European processors have a distinct advantage of low to sometimes free freight out of the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam to provide ballast on ships returning to major countries that export product to Europe. Until you see just how massive and modernized those ports are, you can’t imagine the volume they are capable of shipping out to compete with us in North America.
In the end, my trip taught me that growers everywhere want to produce a high quality product for their customer(s) and all they want in return is a fair price for their time, inputs and risk. Processors worldwide are looking for the latest technology that will allow them to produce the highest quality frozen potato products for their customers in the most efficient way possible.
Worldwide, this is a great industry. I now have a new appreciation for just how connected we all are and look forward to tackling the challenges coming our way in 2025.
