Restaurants, institutions and other foodservice outlets continue to provide strong support for the Idaho potato industry, suppliers say.

With frost damage in Idaho and flooding hampering potato harvest in North Dakota and the Red River Valley, the potato market could take buyers on a wild ride.

Rockingham, Va.-based Shenandoah Growers Inc. has begun harvest at new BioFarm facilities in Rockingham and Elkwood, Va.

Greenhouse growers in Ontario are gearing up for what they hope will be another stellar season, said Joe Sbrocchi, general manager of the Leamington-based Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Association.

A perfect storm of heavy rains followed by freezing cold weather will cut yields for the Red River Valley fresh potato crop in North Dakota and Minnesota nearly by half.

A warm winter and rainy spring with a few hail storms and tornadoes have put a damper on some of Georgia’s crops, which peak in marketable volume mid-May to mid-June.