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thinner skin, and they don’t take the stress as well when facing adverse weather condi- tions. We’re always looking for new yellow varieties unique to our growing area that provide better long-term storage and better grade-out.”
“We’re looking for that elusive yellow variety that stores better,” says Dave Moquist, owner of O.C. Schultz & Sons, Crystal, ND. “Yellow demand has been increasing every year, and we run out too soon.”
In general, shippers in the region concur
that this year’s red and yellow crops should be more manageable, following a year that produced near-record volume. e lack of moisture on this largely non-irrigated crop has reduced overall yields. At the same time, “Varieties are sizing up better than I thought,” reports Greg Hall, owner of Hoople, ND-based J.G. Hall & Sons.
Meanwhile, because of the unusually dry year the Red River Valley growers have faced, some of the fresh potato volume will be
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Greg Hall of J.G. Hall & Sons, Hoople, ND, is shown with eld samples dug several weeks prior to harvest.
Dave Moquist of O.C. Schulz & Sons poses amidst eld samples of red and yellow potatoes.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS POTATO GROWERS ASSOCIATION
Casey Folson of Folson Farms is shown in a red potato eld near Grand Forks, ND.
PRODUCE BUSINESS / OCTOBER 2018 / 109