Latest News From Idaho

The early numbers speak to a larger potato crop in Idaho for the 2023-24 season, and that means more affordable potatoes and greater promotion opportunities for retailers.

There’s been a big shift since the COVID-19 pandemic, said Kent Sutton, whose 375-acre family farm is part of the Rexburg-based Bench Mark cooperative of five potato growers.

Peak potato harvest time drew more than a dozen foodservice and produce professionals from across the country to southeastern Idaho.

Whether it’s accommodating suggestions from customers or following through with their own initiatives, onion grower-shippers in East Oregon and Idaho say they take sustainability seriously.

Inflation has been a challenge for East Oregon and Idaho onion grower-shippers, but they say rising supermarket prices haven’t affected sales of their product.

Troublesome springtime weather gave way to much-improved conditions during the early summer, enabling a good, on-time start to the East Oregon-Idaho onion harvest, grower-shippers said.

Despite elevated pricing for potatoes, retailers are learning that potatoes are still the “pound for pound” best value in the produce department, says Ross Johnson.

Idaho potatoes are in tight supply this year, but that doesn’t mean an end to Idaho potato promotions, said Ross Johnson, vice president of retail and international for the Idaho Potato Commission.

Potato prices are high, but there are still opportunities for retail and foodservice promotions, according to industry leaders.

Acquired by Wilcox Fresh this year, Southwind Farms, in Heyburn, Idaho, specializes in gourmet fingerling potato production, said Juan Juarez, general manager of Southwind Farms by Wilcox.

Sugar City, Idaho-based Sun-Glo of Idaho has finished construction on a new addition to its plant, said Jill Crapo Cox, vice president of sales.

An extension of Potandon’s value-added microwavable line has arrived with the product name Minute Mashers with Gravy, says Dick Thomas, senior vice president of sales for Potandon Produce LLC, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Wada Farms Marketing Group has concluded its potato harvest, with quality looking very good for the 2022/23 season, said Kevin Stanger, president of the Idaho Falls, Idaho-based company.

Acreage and yield might be down for Idaho potatoes, but higher fresh packouts could help to counter those realities, said Ross Johnson, vice president of retail and international for the Idaho Potato Commission.

Buyers got to witness Idaho potato growers in action in early October, said Ross Johnson, vice president of retail and international for the Idaho Potato Commission.

Onion acreage is stable for Caldwell, Idaho-based Symms Fruit Ranch Inc.,  company officials report.

Wada Farms Marketing Group is growing its specialty potato program, including red potatoes, yellow potatoes and fingerling potatoes, says Kevin Stanger, president of the Idaho Falls, Idaho-based company.

February is a good time for retailers to show their love for potatoes. 

It’s always summer in sun-drenched Key West, Florida, where a seven-day resort getaway for two awaits the winner of the Idaho Potato Commission’s 2022 Idaho® Potato Lovers Display Contest sweepstakes.

Nyssa, Ore.-based Snake River Produce is gearing up for another Northwest onion season, with plans to offer yellow, red, white and sweet onions from mid-August to early April.

Rupert, Idaho-based potato grower-shipper Arrowhead Potato Co. and Idaho-based ProSource Produce LLC., have entered an exclusive Sales and Marketing Agreement, that will take effect on August 01, 2021.

Potato sales have taken a big turn toward the retail channel during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and suppliers of Idaho spuds have adapted.

Idaho potato grower-shippers and marketers say they have responded to the current global pandemic the best way they know how: with a good crop.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put packaging at a premium, marketers s

Idaho potato sales are threading their way through the COVID-19 pandemic by spiking in retail stores, while recovering in the foodservice sector, marketers say.

Onion grower-shippers say choice is a major part of their program, including a range of sizes and varieties and, to some extent, organics.

The coronavirus has caused major shifts in the onion business, and grower-shippers across the Idaho-Eastern Oregon region say they are working to stay ahead of changes that sometimes come with little or no notice.

Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion shippers expect to ship a lot more of their product in packages this year, thanks to the coronavirus.

Though “normal” likely would be the last way one might describe 2020, onion suppliers across the Idaho-Eastern Oregon region say they can at least expect some normality in their crops this year.

Eagle Eye Produce, Idaho Falls, is shipping new crop russets, which will be followed shortly by harvesting of red and yellow potatoes.

The Big Idaho Potato Truck is returning to its home base early this season due to coronavirus COVID-19 concerns.

Boise has the Idaho Potato Drop, Vincennes, Ind., has a watermelon drop, Kennett Square, Pa., drops a giant mushroom and now Yuma, Ariz., has a unique way to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

The Idaho Potato Commission, Eagle, has three new commissioners.

It sounds like the start of a joke: A bear walks up to a 4-ton Idaho potato ….

A new Facebook campaign from the Idaho Potato Commission aims to help consumers connect with the farmers who grow their food and highlight the hard work of those growers. 

SUN VALLEY, Idaho — The Big Idaho Potato Truck will be back for another year, for what is expected to be a quality potato crop, Frank Muir told attendees at the 2019 Idaho Grower Shippers Association Convention.

The Mart Group LLC, which consists of four Idaho potato grower-shippers, has entered into a joint venture with onion grower ProSource Inc.

Born and raised on a potato farm in eastern Idaho, Britt Raybould is still close to her potato roots today.

Potato grower-shipper Sun-Glo of Idaho, Sugar City, has added Tron Crumley to its sales staff.

The Big Idaho Potato Truck has finished another season on the road, traveling more than 40,000 miles and participating in almost 70 events in 2018.

Retail produce managers take note: the Idaho Potato Commission’s 2019 retail display contest wants to send you away. To Hawaii.

Alan Kahn is the new vice president of foodservice for the Idaho Potato Commission, Boise.

Editor Tom Karst checks in from the Idaho Grower Shippers Association Annual Convention, and retail editor Ashley Nickle details purported savings by Whole Foods shoppers since the grocery chain was acquired by Amazon.

If consumers noticed larger potato displays at their local grocery stores earlier this year, it’s probably because the Idaho Potato Commission’s annual display contest drew the most in its 27-year history.

Rigby Produce has posted a $100,000 surety bond to hire an individual who was previously subject to disciplinary action under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

With a fleet of about 200 trucks and about 300 trailers, Twin Falls, Idaho,-based Giltner Inc., is an asset-based shipper with heavy business in the fresh produce sector.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on four produce firms for failing to pay reparation awards issued under the PACA, including one for more than $1.3 million.

The Idaho Potato Commission once again had a big presence at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Dec. 22 in Boise.

The Idaho Potato Commission’s biggest marketing campaign, the Big Idaho Potato Truck, has been a few places since it started touring the country in 2012.

Idaho has bounced back to a more normal potato crop this season from its bumper crop last year.