Wisconsin, which ranks third among U.S. potato-growing states, produced 26 million cwt of potatoes in 2024, according to the Antigo-based Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association.
That was down from 28 million cwt in 2023, a year that saw above-average yields, says Dana Rady, the association’s director of promotion, communication and consumer education. The state’s approximately 100 potato growers produce about 63,000 acres of russet, red, white and yellow potatoes each year along with specialty varieties like blue/purple, fingerlings and little potatoes, Rady says.
Most growers say they expect 2025 yields to be similar to last year.
Bushmans’
Rosholt, Wis.-based Bushmans’ Inc. will begin its russet harvest the first week of August, which is a typical start time for that variety, says CEO Mike Carter. Red and yellow harvests were already underway.
The company also offers a number of convenience items, like Speedy Spuds triple-washed microwaveable potatoes and tray packs of foil-wrapped and unwrapped potatoes, he says.
Bushmans’ ships potatoes year-round, starting with shipments from the field then transitioning to storage sales. Harvesting usually wraps up by Oct. 10 or shortly thereafter. Growing conditions have been “really good” so far, Carter said in late July, with timely rain and just enough heat.
Average size and good quality were expected this year, barring unforeseen glitches prior to harvest.
Alsum Farms
Alsum Farms & Produce, Friesland, Wis., is kicking off the season with upgrades.
“We’ve installed two final grading ‘Spider robots,’” says Christine Lindner, marketing manager. “We’ve also updated our plant’s primary sizer/sorter with machine-learning vision cameras and software from the same company.”
Alsum Farms & Produce also plans to install solar panels on the roof of its office, warehouse and production facility in Friesland.
Although it was too early to predict yields and size profiles, test digs at Alsum Farms of Wisconsin russet, red, yellow and specialty creamer potato varieties were indicating a promising year, Lindner says.
Harvest of red and yellow potatoes was set to get underway Aug. 4, and the start of russet potatoes should kick off the week of Aug. 18. Alsum Farms, founding member of the Wisconsin Healthy Grown Program, grows 2,700 acres of Wisconsin Healthy Grown Certified potatoes, Lindner says.
Alsum Farms & Produce offers a year-round supply of Wisconsin russets while yellows and reds finish up by January. In the specialty category, the company offers 3-pound and 5-pound specialty creamer red and yellow potato blends.
Schroeder Bros.
Although Antigo-based Schroeder Bros. Farms Inc. focuses on seed potatoes, the company also offers some red and russet potatoes for fresh market sales, says Eric Schroeder, son of Pete Schroeder, one of the owners.
Digging will start the first week of September this year as usual, he says, and will continue until about the third week of October.
“We try to be done shipping our table stock by January,” he says.
Then the company, which traces its roots to 1879, transitions to seed potatoes.
Planting season was really good, Schroeder says.
“It was cool at first and dry all the way through May,” he adds.
Timely rains showed up in June so little irrigation was needed. Drier weather in July had growers cranking up their water supplies.
Schroeder said in July that he expected good quality this year, but he added, “We’ve got another six weeks to go, so who knows?”
The company sells mostly to brokers who, in turn, ship to retail customers.
Organic Potatoes
Organic potatoes are featured in the product lines of many Wisconsin growers, even if they’re procured from other suppliers.
Bushmans’ does not grow organic tubers but makes them available to customers to complement their conventional programs, Carter says. He noted that locally grown potatoes seem to gaining as much favor among consumers as organically grown potatoes.
Alsum Farms & Produce doesn’t grow organic potatoes either, but Lindner says the company does market a grower partner’s Wisconsin organic potato crop. Wisconsin organic russet, red and yellow varieties will be available for shipping starting week of Aug. 11.
The company started its relatively small organic potato program in 2000, and volume and sales dollars have doubled in the past five years, she says.
“Gen Z and millennials are an audience that prefers russet, red and yellow potatoes in 3- and 5-pound pack offerings and continues to embrace the organics potato category,” Lindner says.
