North Dakota
The initiative uses large crates, rather than bulk storage in bins.
The North Dakota State University professor who developed the tuber says it was cross-bred and selected in the Red River Valley, and it is compatible with the region’s short growing season.
Once considered niche by some, the potatoes have experienced significant growth in recent years.
Growers in the 300-mile valley produce red, yellow, white and russet potatoes on 120,000 total acres in North Dakota and Minnesota.
Black Gold Farms, Grand Forks, N.D., has added Doug Kling to its board of directors.
Black Gold Farms has started harvesting red and yellow potatoes in the Red River Valley.
Carissa Olsen is the new president and CEO of NoKota Packers Inc., Buxton, N.D.
North Dakota’s congressional delegation is pressing Canadian Pacific Railway to provide details of its backlog of grain shipments, saying farmers need detailed information with fall harvest fast approaching.
Black Gold Farms, Grand Forks, N.D., has formed Horizons Logistics LLC to overcome increasing challenges of finding reliable transportation.
Growers have fewer potatoes to sell compared with a year ago but they are getting more money for what they do have.
After a tough year last year, potato crop prospects are much improved for Crystal, N.D.-based O.C. Schulz & Sons.
With reports of above-average quality, fresh potato harvest for NoKota Packers will likely continue into the third or fourth week of October, says Carissa Olsen, president and CEO of the Buxton, N.D.-based marketer.
Heimbuch Potatoes has purchased a trucking company, said Chad Heimbuch, owner of the Cogswell, N.D.-based potato marketer.
Red River Valley potatoes are promoted in a big way by the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association.
Some Red River Valley potato marketers could finish a little earlier than usual this year, said Ted Kreis, marketing and communications director for the Northern Great Plains Potato Growers Association.
The biggest trend this year for OC Schulz & Sons Inc., Crystal, N.D., is the continued demand for yellow potatoes.
Potato movement has been good throughout the Red River Valley at the start of this season.
NoKota Packers is locked and loaded for the 2023-24 season, says Carissa Olsen, president and CEO of the Buxton, N.D.-based marketer.
The availability of livestock workers was ranked as more limited than crop workers and finding long-term help seen as more difficult than temporary help due to the seasonal nature of the ag industry.
The Buxton, N.D.-based company, established in 1979, is planning an open house in early 2025 to celebrate the milestone.