Wada Farms partners on Treasure Valley sweet potatoes
Idaho Falls, Idaho-based Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC now has a joint venture with Nyssa, Ore.-based Owyhee Produce to grow and ship sweet potatoes out of the Treasure Valley, said Eric Beck, marketing director with Wada Farms.
Sweet potato production is unusual for the region, he said.
“Planning started in 2011 and then about three years ago, in 2014, we gained some steam with some studies from the University of Oregon about the viability of growing sweet potatoes in the Treasure Valley,” Beck said.
“We did further studies. In 2016, we grew our first crop and had some limited distribution. In 2017, we have a fabulous crop, great quality and had some great interest in the fresh market.”
The partners have about 100 acres of Treasure Valley sweet potatoes, he said.
Owyhee brings a proven grower and co-packer into Wada Farms’ network, Beck said.
“Between their strength as growers and our marketing reach, we can bring customers a one-stop shop manifest,” Beck said.
“We can pack them, bring them across the state and consolidate them with their onion and potato load, so they’re getting them with all one truck.”
Distribution of the product will be limited to western states, particularly the Northwest, Beck said.
“We can’t compete with the East Coast, but the value for this program is the Pacific Northwest area, maybe into Utah and Colorado, but not much beyond that,” he said.