Spud outlook strong for Alsum Farms

Test digs at Alsum Farms of Wisconsin russet, red and yellow potato varieties are indicating a promising year, says Christine Lindner, marketing manager of the Friesland, Wis.-based marketer.

Alsum Farms is a Wisconsin fresh market potato grower and founding member of the Wisconsin Healthy Grown Program that has guided the farm’s stewardship and sustainability practices for nearly three decades, she said.

“It’s still a little early to tell on yields and size profile, but our early yellow varieties are sizing up well,” she said. “Wisconsin potato harvest is underway with the start of yellow and red potatoes, and russet potatoes are on track to begin harvest on Aug. 11." 

More than 90% of the shipper’s business is to retail accounts, Lindner said.

Drought-like conditions this summer have presented a challenge to growers, she said. Alsum Farms had to use its irrigation system for most of the summer growing season.

“Despite the drought, our stands are looking good as well as the plant growth,” she said. “We anticipate a good-quality crop."

Alsum Farms grows 3,000 acres of Wisconsin Healthy Grown Certified russet, red and yellow potatoes, Lindner said, accounting for about half of the total overall annual potato volume for the company.

This year, the company planted its 3,000 acres of Wisconsin potatoes between its two farming locations in Arena and Grand Marsh, Wis.

“Wisconsin will be able to provide quality new crop by early late July at competitive prices that will allow retailers to run promotions on new crop potatoes during the latter half of the summer months and into fall,” she said.

Alsum Farms & Produce offers a year-round supply of Wisconsin russets, while yellows and reds finish up by January, she said.

Wisconsin organic russet, red and yellow varieties were available for shipping starting Aug. 14.

Wisconsin trends

The company’s total Wisconsin potato acres for 2023 are nearly the same as last year, she said, with the company cutting back on its red potato acres and increasing its yellow potato acres.   

“We are seeing huge growth of yellow potato and petite categories the past two years,” she said. “As a result, Alsum Farms has added more yellow potato and petite red and petite yellow acres that were previously red potatoes.”

For Alsum Farms & Produce, the 5-pound and 10-pound packs of russet, yellow and creamer potato varieties have been its largest volume movers in the past five years, Lindner said.