RPE expanding organic potato production

To meet increasing demand, RPE Inc. is expanding its organic potato production and adding more growers.

The Bancroft, Wis.-based grower-shipper is also growing sweet potatoes.

Chad Malek, a longtime RPE grower from Rosholt, Wis., started growing organic potatoes in 2011.

Late last year, fire destroyed his farming warehouse.

During the rebuilding process, Malek expanded his organic program and provides other organic potato growers space and capacity to wash, cool and store their organic potatoes, according to a news release.

The new production and storage facility can simultaneously handle more varieties and sizes and provide higher and more consistent quality organic products, according to the release.

RPE grows organics in six states and has expanded its organic production in Colorado and the Pacific Northwest.

Through a partnership with Mississippi growers, it is also growing organic sweet potatoes, according to the release.

RPE began packing organics in 2009 and has increased its land base by more than 6,000%, according to the release.

"Having seen a rise in the popularity of organic potatoes, we hope that our partnerships and expanded organic capabilities will provide our customers with more organic options that their consumers demand," Russell Wysocki, RPE president and CEO, said in the release.

More households are buying organic produce.

The category experienced more than $11 billion in 2015 sales, according to the release.

RPE is a second-generation family farming operation.