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Dwayne Weyers and Mike Bonemeyer are on the sales staff at Aspen Produce, Center, CO.
the lack of late blight, which other areas face.” Two San Luis Valley-based companies joined the organic shipper list when they entered into a joint venture last season. Hi-Land Potato Co. and Monte Vista Potato Growers Co-op started packing organics in a
packing facility north of Monte Vista.
“All shippers here are trying to do at least some organics,” notes Ehrlich. One grow- er-shipper, for example, Maverick Potato Co., based in Center, CO, completed the conver- sion of 100 percent of its potato crop into
certi ed organic a few years ago.
Maverick co-owner Roger Christensen
reports organic production through his ware- house in 2018-19 will be about 40 percent in Russets, with 35 percent in gold varieties and 25 percent in Reds. Much of Maver- ick’s product is now marketed through Farm Fresh Direct, Monte Vista, CO. “Because of the seasonal nature of our product, this global marketing agency is a great asset,” he notes, adding that he only recently joined the Farm Fresh sales/business development team.
Aspen Produce LLC, based in Center, CO, will be o ering more organics this season, according to co-owner Rick Ellithorpe. e company completed instal- lation of its certi ed organic packing line, and its growing operations increased its organic acreage. Aspen Produce’s organic volume is estimated to be at least 10 percent of total product shipped.
Skyline Potato Co., Center, CO, has been marketing organic potatoes for more than 20 years and has developed a wide customer base and loyal following. “We are a full-service potato company, with a year-round supply of potatoes — both conventional and organic,” says Les Alderete, Skyline’s general manager.
e company markets a portion of its organic volume through Robinson Fresh, Eden Prairie, MN, using the Tomorrow’s Organic label. At the same time, the company sells its own Nature Fresh organic label
through Skyline. “ ere’s a big learning curve when you rst get into organic growing, and not everyone will make it,” says Alderete.
Other shippers o ering organics in their line include RPE Colorado, in Monte Vista, White Rock Specialties LLC in Mosca, and Canon Potato LLC in Center.
Whether organic or conventional, Russet varieties remain the primary potato shipped from this region. Overall, Red potato produc- tion has increased slightly, but Yellows have enjoyed an even greater jump, comprising
more than 10 percent of production. Finger- lings and other specialty varieties account for about 3 percent, reports CPAC’s Ehrlich.
He hastens to add, however, that Colo- rado can grow any kind of potato that buyers or consumers desire. Pink-skinned pota- toes, purple varieties and unusually shaped potatoes are getting the attention of a full range of end-users — from executive chefs to “foodies,” to creative home cooks seeking new, imaginative ideas for their families or for entertaining guests.
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