Continuing a holiday tradition that started in 1982, Dave Haun was on hand at the Salvation Army in Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 12, watching as a full load of potatoes were moved from a semi tractor-trailer.
Haun, owner of Haun Potato Co., carries on the donation program started by his father, Dick “Spud” Haun more than 35 years ago, with more than 1.5 million pounds given over the years.
The potatoes are donated by Red River Valley shippers:
- A&L Potato Co., East Grand Forks, Minn.;
- Associated Potato Growers, Grand Forks, N.D.;
- J.G. Hall & Sons, Edinburg, N.D.;
- Nokota Packers, Buxton, N.D.; and
- O.C. Schultz, Crystal, N.D.
“I cannot thank them enough for making this much needed project a true success,” Haun said in a news release about the donation.
Although he is ending active operations at Haun Potato at the end of the year and easing into retirement, Haun said in the release that “we will do everything in our power to continue this charitable endeavor as long as we possibly can.”
In 2017, The Packer recognized Dave Haun for his charitable work over the years, naming him the recipient of the publication’s Jan Fleming Produce Legacy Award.
