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A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT
Ahigh-quality, manageable volume of potatoes from the Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota is forecasted for the 2018-19 season, and growers and shippers here are encouraging retail and foodservice buyers to compare their fresh red and yellow potatoes to all others produced in any other growing area in the country.
e Red River Valley is the nation’s leading producer of red potatoes and is emerging as a leader in yellow potato produc- tion. Growers claim their annual harvest is unparalleled in quality, color, texture and taste. Multitudes of retail and foodservice buyers appear to agree about the superior quality, as they look forward each season to the new crop.
With more than 250 growers producing more than 40 million hundredweight (cwt.) per year, an estimated 17 percent goes to the fresh market. e region is the third largest potato-producing area in the nation, according to the Northern Plains Potato
108 / OCTOBER 2018 / PRODUCE BUSINESS
BY SANDY LINDBLAD LEE
Growers Association (NPPGA), based in East Grand Forks, MN.
e colorful spuds reaching the fresh market result from unique growing condi- tions. e Red River Valley is the bottom of what was once a massive glacial lake. As the huge glacier plowed over the land, it depos- ited a layer of silt, clay, sand and rock that transformed into the valley’s rich black soil. is contributes to the brilliant hues of red potatoes, along with an increasing volume of yellow spud varieties. e texture and smoothness of these potatoes are an added
bonus for consumers.
In the Red River Valley, yellow potato
production increased four-fold during the past 10 years. Overall, yellow volume comprises about 16 percent of the total, according to Ted Kreis,
marketing and commu-
nications director for the
NPPGA. “We can never
lose sight of our identity
as the nation’s leader in red
potato production, but we
certainly need to let it be
known we are a great source for yellow pota- toes, too.”
Paul Dolan, general manager of Associ- ated Potato Growers Inc. (APGI), Grand Forks, ND, agrees. is grower-owned cooperative is said to be the largest volume shipper in the valley. Although this season’s plantings are about the same as last season, Dolan said the overall trend has shown an increase in the yellow potato plantings, but it has not been without additional challenges. “Yellow varieties are more sensitive, have
The outlook is good for high-quality crops of red and yellow potatoes from the Red River Valley.
Ted Kreis