North Dakota

Schulz Aims to Reduce Shrink With New Potato Storage Method

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 14:42:52 GMT

O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc., Crystal, N.D., is trying a new way to store potatoes.

“We’re storing some potatoes in large crates, rather than bulk in the bins,” says Dave Moquist, an owner of the company. “We hope that will cut down on shrink issues, especially pressure bruising.”

The company will focus on yellow potatoes for the test, but a few red potatoes might be included to see how the process works for them versus storing in bulk.

The potatoes will be stored in 4,000-pound crates stacked up in bins where potatoes typically are stored loose. If all goes according to plan, the tubers will remain in good condition throughout the long-term storage cycle.

Moquist says he likely will use the traditional loose storage method until around February, then switch to the new system.

“That may be ideal,” he says. “We don’t have any experience yet, so we’re not sure exactly how it’s going to work.”

The company ships potatoes from October until early May.

Get To Know a New Yellow Potato Variety

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:48:41 GMT

It’s been a little over 10 years since Susie Thompson, associate professor in potato breeding at North Dakota State University, first crossed and selected a new yellow potato selection. Her efforts finally are nearing fruition.

The new line, ND1241-1Y, may be available commercially as soon as late November or perhaps by next season. The ND1241 has the characteristics of a good fresh-market potato, like intense yellow color and great flavor, she says.

“The tuber size profile is very, very uniform,” Thompson says.

They’re very round, not oblong like Yukon Gold or some other varieties, and they are higher set than Yukon Gold and produce a lot of 4- to 8-ounce tubers, Thompsons says. It’s also a good variety to use for potato chips.

“It will chip directly out of the field but also following 10 months storage at 42°F,” she says. “The chips are a beautiful yellow color.”

Yellow potatoes have been gaining popularity over the past several years.

“Between 2008 and 2023, the amount of yellow potatoes produced in the Red River Valley dramatically increased at the expense of red table stock potatoes,” Thompson says.

Although some Yukon Gold potatoes still are grown, the main varieties produced in the Red River Valley — such as columba, Musica and Soraya — were developed in Europe and are not always ideal for growing in Minnesota and North Dakota, home of the Red River Valley.

Regional growers may need a more locally adapted variety, she says.

The ND1241 was cross bred and selected in the Red River Valley. It comes on early and is compatible with the region’s short growing season.

Variety trials began in 2018, some seed acreage has been planted in North Dakota and Minnesota, and marketing evaluations are underway, Thompson says.

Growers also are evaluating the ND1241 to see how it packs compared to other yellow potatoes. So far, no storage issues have been reported.

The variety could be considered for release as soon as November, or Thompson may decide to wait until next season.

“I want feedback from growers who have it this year,” she says. “I want to see what sort of experiences they had.”

What's Behind Rising Sales of Red River Valley Yellow Potatoes

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 09:38:45 GMT

The Red River Valley typically produces red, russet and yellow potatoes, but growers say the yellow varieties have enjoyed a significant growth spurt over the past decade or so.

Chad Heimbuch, manager at Heimbuch Potatoes LLC, Cogswell, N.D., which has been growing yellow potatoes exclusively since 2012, says up to 70% of the potatoes ordered by some of his major buyers are yellows.

Customers who were requesting one load a week in 2009 were asking for three loads a week in 2011 because of increased consumer demand.

“We we’re kind of growing with our customers,” Heimbuch says.

The fact that yellow potatoes grow better in Red River Valley soil than some other varieties made the decision to switch to yellows easier, he says.

Today, Heimbuch Potatoes produces about 600,000 hundredweight (cwt) of yellow potatoes per year on 1,000 acres.

Red potatoes traditionally were the bestsellers in the Red River Valley, says Keith Groven, south central director of operations for Black Gold Farms, Grand Forks, N.D.

“But we are selling more yellow potatoes than we ever have before,” he says.

Black Gold Farms has offered yellow potatoes for 15 years.

“When we started, they were a bit of a niche,” Groven says. “Around 2015-2016, we started to see the shift where the utilization and the popularity of yellow potatoes really started to grow in our business.”

It became clear by the late 2010s that yellow potatoes were going to surpass the reds in popularity, he says.

Prior to 2015, yellow potatoes accounted for about 5% of the company’s tubers, Groven says. Today they make up 50% of the firm’s fresh market potato production.

Yellow potatoes are about 20% of the crop at Hall’s in Edinburg, N.D., says partner Jackson Hall. Area growers are able to get good yields and good quality from their yellow potatoes, he says.

Hall attributes their popularity surge largely to their increased notoriety.

“Yellow potatoes seem to get a lot of publicity,” he says. “Cooking shows and recipes really promote yellow potatoes.”

Yellow potatoes continuously received plugs from cooking programs and chefs, Groven agrees.

They’re especially suited for mashed potatoes, he adds.

“The yellow color and the inherent texture really did lend themselves to that
style of cooking,” Groven explains. “They have slowly become the staple potato in people’s pantries.”

Yukon Golds were the longtime mainstay in the yellow potato category, but they were susceptible to multiple growing issues, Heimbuch says.

“The [varieties] that we are planting now are definitely a lot better than a Yukon Gold was,” he says.

One drawback is that yellows typically are not a good storage potato, he says.

“There tends to be more pressure bruising,” Heimbuch says.

Yellow potatoes aren’t marketed by variety, but several options are available.

“Through the years, we probably trialed 50 to 75 varieties,” he says.

About five are now commonly grown in the Red River Valley, including varieties like colomba, Musica and Actrice.

Red River Valley Potato Harvest Has Potential for ‘Banner Year’

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:08:11 GMT

Harvest was on schedule, and color and quality of potatoes from the Red River Valley were looking good in late September, says Gary Shields, executive director for the Northland Potato Growers Association, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Growers in the 300-mile valley in upper Minnesota and North Dakota produce red, yellow, white and russet potatoes on 75,000 acres in North Dakota and 45,000 acres in Minnesota, he says.

Hall’s

Edinburg, N.D.-based Hall’s had harvested about 35% of its crop by late September, and partner Jackson Hall says he was pleased with the quality.

“We had a nice spring for planting, but things got dry June through mid-July,” he says. “We did get nice, timely rains late July through August.”

The size profile is larger than the past couple of years, he says, and volume should be similar to last year.

Hall’s main varieties are dark red
norlands and sangre, but it also plants small lots of other varieties to determine whether they’ll work on a larger scale.

Hall’s typically ships from late October through April or sometimes into May.

Edinburg, N.D.-based Hall’s had harvested about 35% of its crop by late September, and partner Jackson Hall says he was pleased with the quality. The size profile is larger than the past couple of years, he says, and volume should be similar to last year.

(Photo courtesy of Hall’s)

O.C. Schulz

O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc., Crystal, N.D., started its harvest Sept. 9, which is a typical start date, says owner Dave Moquist. The company ships several varieties of red and yellow potatoes from mid-October until early May. The harvest was somewhat slower this year because of hot weather.

Temperatures had cooled down a bit but were still above average in late September.

“Our digging conditions right now are excellent,” he said Sept. 18. “We have moisture in the ground, and quality looks good.”

Moquist expects yields to be average to slightly above average with good sizing and some spuds above average in size.

O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc., Crystal, N.D., started its harvest on Sept. 9, which is a typical start date, says owner Dave Moquist. The company ships several varieties of red and yellow potatoes from mid-October until early May.

(Photo courtesy of O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc.)

Black Gold Farms

Keith Groven, south central director of operations for Black Gold Farms, Grand Forks, N.D., seems excited about the coming season.

“This is shaping up to be an absolute banner year out of the Red River Valley,” Groven says. “I think we’ll see one of the better crops we’ve seen in the last decade.”

He describes the crop as very healthy and very nice-looking and adds that the large crop with good quality should lend itself well to selling through retail.

Black Gold Farms sells a wide range of sizes of mostly red and yellow potatoes, and Groven explains that the petite
and creamer size markets appear to be growing in both the red and yellow categories. The company offers organic red potatoes as well. Black Gold Farms also has steady foodservice business, Groven says.

Ben Holmes Potato Co.

Harvest for Ben Holmes Potato Co., Becker, Minn., started Sept. 2, which is earlier than usual because of optimal growing conditions, says owner Kevin Olson.

But the harvest slowed because of warm weather. Sporadic rain also cropped up throughout the valley this summer, with heavy precipitation in some areas.

“Right now, the quality is looking excellent on both reds and yellows,” he said in late September, with a good mix of sizes.

Ben Holmes Potato offers several varieties of red and yellow potatoes.

“They’re always trying to find something that can store for a longer period of time with minimal pressure bruising,” Olson says.

The company sells potatoes year-round, sometimes sourcing from out of state during the summer, he says.

Volume should be up a bit compared to last year because of increased yields, Olson adds.

Prices were soft during the summer, but Olson says he hopes fobs will strengthen as potatoes go into storage. He’d like to see 50-pound cartons of Size A potatoes sell for up to $20 to $22, similar to last year.

NoKota Packers

North Dakota had a good growing year in 2025, says Mike Rerick, vice president of sales and marketing for NoKota Packers Inc., Buxton, N.D.

“Most all areas had adequate rainfall and temperatures,” he says. “This was a welcome change from the past few years, where conditions have been very dry.”

Color and quality of the company’s yellow and red potatoes is average to above average, he says, and potato sizing is “right around the average size profile that we would like to see.”

NoKota Packers also sources russets from partner sheds.

“Our main focus is 5- and 10-pound retail packs along with 50-pound bags and boxes as well as bulk totes,” Rerick says.

Volume will be slightly up for NoKota Packers compared to last year.

As part of Fresh Solutions Network, the company supplies potatoes for partner firms that pack specialty items.

“Our exclusive Side Delights brand for this network has a wide variety of packaging options, including convenience items like Steamables, Bakeables, Grillables and Flavorables,” Rerick says.

NoKota Packing continues to upgrade its facility with new equipment to become more efficient and offer better products and service to customers, Rerick says.

“On the social media side, we continue to expand our presence using a variety of different platforms to reach as many consumers as possible,” he adds.

Packaging Options

Red River Valley grower-shippers offer a variety of packaging options.

Hall’s packs 3-, 5- and 10-pound poly bags, 50-pound sacks, 50-pound cartons and in totes, Hall says.

O.C. Schulz ships many 50-pound paper bags and cartons to wholesalers, provides totes for re-packers and packs standard

3-, 5- and 10-pound packages for consumers, Moquist says.

And Ben Holmes Potato sells a mix of packaging options including totes and 3- and 5-pound red and yellow potatoes, Olson says.

Doug Kling joins Black Gold Farms board

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:13:08 GMT

Black Gold Farms , Grand Forks, N.D., has added Doug Kling to its board of directors.

Kling, the former chief marketing officer at Village Farms, is CEO and managing partner of his consulting firm, Kling Strategic Partners LLC, Lake Mary, Fla.

Potato grower-shipper Black Gold Farms recently opened the spot for a non-family member on its board, according to a news release.

“Working with Doug while serving on the United Fresh (Produce Association) board of directors has really showed me that Doug is not afraid to challenge the status quo or speak up,” Eric Halverson, CEO of Black Gold Farms, said in the release. “This is exactly what we need as a family organization. Someone to push us and help us make the difficult decisions.”

Kling said he has worked with Eric and Leah Halverson, CEO of Ten Acre Marketing and marketing director of marketing at Black Gold Farms, through industry organizations.

“I’ve been impressed with their commitment to growth, innovation, and their ability to keep family harmony,” Kling said in the release. “Having all of that is not easy and it takes work.”

Related stories:

Black Gold Farms hires chief production officer

Leah Halverson leads Ten Acre Marketing

PBH names Role Models, Excellence Award honorees

Black Gold Farms’ red and yellow potatoes shipping from N.D.

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:11:50 GMT

Black Gold Farms has started harvesting red and yellow potatoes in the Red River Valley.

The company has production in numerous states, but “this is our backyard,” Black Gold CEO Eric Halverson said in a news release. The company will be harvesting the potatoes in the region for a month, and will store and ship them into April, according to the release.

“The early quality samples that we’re seeing look fantastic, and we’re ready to get them on the road,” Black Gold Farms’ fresh sales manager Keith Groven said in the release.

The company’s headquarters and Red River Valley packing facility are in Grand Forks, N.D.

NoKota Packers appoints Carissa Olsen president and CEO

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:25:20 GMT

Carissa Olsen is the new president and CEO of NoKota Packers Inc. , Buxton, N.D.

Olsen succeeds Steve Tweten, who retired in December.

She joined the company 15 years ago, as an administrative assistant, and her most recent role as chief operating officer began three years ago, according to a news release. Before that, she was director of operations.

Olsen has worked in numerous roles at the company, including food safety, human resources, grower relations and accounting, which has helped her “immensely with the nuts and bolts of the business operations,” she said in the release.

“My father, who will retire at the end of this season, was NoKota’s first employee, so I grew up around the business, following him while he worked in the plant and touring potato fields,” Olsen said in the release. “Pairing my experience in various roles with my knowledge of the history and current operations has prepared me thoroughly for this position.”

NoKota Packers is a member of Fresh Solutions Network LLC, a group of potato and onion grower-shippers who supply the Side Delights line of potatoes and other products.

It is a third-generation packer and shipper of red potatoes grown in the Red River Valley.

Mike Rerick, vice president of sales and marketing, and Steve Johnson, who is in sales, will continue in those roles, according to the release.

Kathleen Triou, president and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, said Olson “will continue to lead with the same clarity of vision, mission, and purpose that has made NoKota successful over the last 40 years, while honoring the legacy of the founders and continuing it for future generations.”

Related stories:

Tweten of NoKota Packers set to retire

New promotions and anniversary at NoKota

Red River Valley growers report various conditions

North Dakota Officials Want More Details on Backlogged Grain Shipments

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:01:30 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — 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. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board told Canadian Pacific and BNSF Railway in June to submit plans to address backlogs in northern Plains states and begin filing weekly updates. But Sen John Hoeven, R-N.D., Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said Canadian Pacific’s weekly report does not include a specific number of past-due rail cars or average lateness, leaving farmers in the dark. “Canadian Pacific has not indicated any meaningful reductions in their backlog since these reports began,” Cramer said in a statement. Grain bins across the state are full and harvests from prior years are being stored on the ground while awaiting rail cars. Heitkamp, in a letter to the railroad’s chief executive, Hunter Harrison, said detailed information on grain shipments “will provide Canadian Pacific the opportunity to restore weakened confidence among its customers in my state.” Canadian Pacific spokesman Ed Greenberg said Tuesday that the railroad will provide detailed information on past-due rail shipments to the North Dakota lawmakers “as quickly as possible.” “We take their concerns very seriously,” Greenberg said. North Dakota is Canadian Pacific’s biggest customer for farm commodity shipments but the railroad also moves grain in Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Missouri, Greenberg said. The railroad has been moving more than 2,000 grain cars weekly in the states since June, Greenberg said. He did not immediately know the number of delayed rail cars. Many farmers and some North Dakota officials believe the increased crude oil and freight shipments from the state’s booming oil patch are largely the cause of shipping delays, which have created big backlogs at grain elevators and added costs for agriculture shippers. But BNSF and Canadian Pacific have said that brutal winter weather and bottlenecks in Chicago are to blame. The lack of railcars has delayed shipping of agricultural products by as much as 40 days in recent months though Sen. Hoeven said BNSF, the biggest grain shipper in North Dakota, at least appears to be making progress. “The first priority is for the railroads to get caught up,” Hoeven said. BNSF reported 3,908 past due rail cars in North Dakota averaging 26 days late in its latest report to federal officials. That’s down about 14 percent from the previous week. BNSF said North Dakota had the most past-due rail cars followed by Montana, South Dakota and Minnesota. The railroad said in its report only two of the 19 states it serves have no past-due rail cars. Hoeven said BNSF accounts for two-thirds of the grain shipments in North Dakota, while Canadian Pacific has the remaining third of the business. Hoeven said the North Dakota delegation have invited officials from both railroads to come to Bismarck next month to personally update farm groups on the status of grain shipments. “We want to find out exactly where they’re at and their plan for harvest,” Hoeven said. Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Black Gold Farms forms Horizon Logistics

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:00:34 GMT

Black Gold Farms , Grand Forks, N.D., has formed Horizons Logistics LLC to overcome increasing challenges of finding reliable transportation.

Horizons Logistics, also in Grand Forks, will move Black Gold Farms potatoes , and service other companies. With the independent, full-service logistics company, Black Gold Farms becomes a vertically-integrated “farm to forklift” operation, according to a news release.

“In the last few years, we’ve seen the transportation deal be as up and down as ever, and that was affecting our customers,” Black Gold Farms CEO Eric Halverson said in the release. “Our number-one objective is to make sure we get our potatoes to our customers, when they want them and how they want them. Trucks have a major influence in that.”

The potato grower-shipper has an internal team focusing on transportation through a “brokerage-style” business, according to the release.

“Our current system has worked well in the past, and we know that our transportation team is the last line of defense in order to create the most value the farm can to our customers,” Matt Jahnke, director of transportation for Horizon Logistics, said in the release.

Black Gold Farms will be discussing Horizon Logistics at the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit expo Oct. 18-19 in Anaheim, Calif., at booth No. 4642.

Related stories:

Doug Kling joins Black Gold Farms board

Leah Halverson leads Ten Acre Marketing

Black Gold Farms hires chief production officer

Weather cuts potato acreage, production dips 6%

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:19:11 GMT

Growers have fewer potatoes to sell compared with a year ago but they are getting more money for what they do have.

U.S. production of potatoes is down 6% this year, according to the f irst forecast of the season from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Total production for 2019 is forecast at 422 million cwt., down 6% from 2018, according to the USDA.

The harvested acreage for 2019 is estimated at 938,900 acres, down 7% from 1.01 million acres last year.

The yield forecast, at 450 cwt. per acre, is up 7 cwt. compared with the 2018 crop.

The USDA said that growers in Idaho reported crop losses due to freezing temperatures in late September and early October, with several growers leaving potatoes in the ground to avoid the cost of harvest.
Washington growers, according to the agency, reported some quality concerns because of “soilborne issues and freeze damage at the end of the harvest season.”

Prolonged wet conditions in late September and early October hampered harvest in the Red River Valley in North Dakota.

The potato estimate put harvested acreage in North Dakota at 59,000 acres, down 19% compared with last year. Total output in North Dakota was 20.9 million cwt. down 12% compared with 2018.

The Idaho potato crop is estimated at 133.9 million cwt., off about 6% from 141.8 million cwt. a year ago.

Effect on prices

In the agency’s Market News reports, prices for potatoes in mid-November were running well above year-ago levels.

The Idaho russet burbank price for 60-count 50-pound cartons was reported at $16-19, up from $8-9 per carton the same time a year ago.

In the Red River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota, the USDA reported 50-pound cartons of size B round red potatoes were $23 to $25 on Nov. 13, up from $14 to $15 per carton the same time a year go.
Movement of potatoes reflected reduced output.

Total shipments of U.S. potatoes the week of Nov. 3-9 totaled 3.67 million 50-pound carton, down 23% from 4.74 million 50-pound cartons a year ago.

In addition, the USDA reported retail promotions of potatoes showed declines in the number of supermarket ads and an increase in average promoted prices.

For Nov. 8, the USDA reported round red potatoes were promoted by 299 retail stores, down from 1,034 stores promoting the same time a year ago. The average promoted price per pound for round red potatoes was 94 cents, up from 77 cents per pound a year ago.

The number of supermarket promotions for 10-pound bags or russet burbank potatoes totaled 1,322 on Nov. 8, down 22% compared with 1,693 stores a year ago. The average promoted price for 10-pound bags of russet potatoes was reported at $2.91 on Nov. 8, up 7% from $2.72 a year ago.

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UPDATED: Mother Nature deals setbacks to Idaho, North Dakota potatoes

Perfect storm cuts Red River Valley fresh potato crop

Russets rule, but varieties add appeal to Idaho spuds

Normal weather year sets up a good harvest for O.C. Schulz & Sons

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 14:38:38 GMT

After a tough year last year, potato crop prospects are much improved for Crystal, N.D.-based O.C. Schulz & Sons.

“Last year we had a major drought and since our crop is all grown naturally without irrigation we had a below-average yield,” said David Moquist, partner with the company growing potatoes in the Red River Valley. “This year, our rainfall has been more normal and it appears we have average or better yields, and so far, quality looks very good.”

The farm is a family-run operation, he said, with the third- and fourth-generation family members currently involved.

“My great-grandparents homestead on the land we now farm,” Moquist said. “ We take a lot of pride in the products we sell and we only sell our own production.”

With yellow potato production increasing over time, Moquist said the company is now growing about 25% yellow potatoes and 75% red potatoes for the fresh market.

The company has also made recent investments in efficiency, he said.

“We have totally revamped our packaging shed,” Moquist said. “We have moved the majority of the equipment into an adjoining space that used to be storage. This has allowed us to put in a new electronic grader and sizer, and some additional packaging machinery. This should improve our efficiencies and reduce our demand for labor, therefore, making us more sustainable.”

The 2021-2022 marketing season was relatively easy from a marketing perspective because of the shorter crop and strong prices.

“The one glitch was transportation, which all areas had issues with,” he said.

For 2022-2023, Moquist said O.C. Schulz & Sons will continue its focus on shipping quality potatoes. The prospects for demand are good, he said.

Although inflation is a worry for the entire supply chain, the starting point for effective retail sales of Red River Valley potatoes is a fair margin, both for the growers and consumers, Moquist said.

“I believe the Red River Valley will have an excellent crop and be able to meet demand and fill the void in other markets,” he said.

NoKota Packers report above-average quality in Red River Valley

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 18:19:32 GMT

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.

Olsen said NoKota has been packing and shipping potatoes in the small farming community in Buxton since 1979.

“In a typical year we store, wash, pack, sell and ship out over 700,000 cwt of potatoes,” Olsen said.

This year, growing conditions were fairly dry in most growing regions.

“But once again, potatoes show their resiliency, and the yield has been average,” she said. “Quality has been average to above average. We maintained our usual number of acres but have switched some acres from reds to yellows.”

In fact, Olsen said five years ago, the NoKota offered only red potatoes.

“Last year we dabbled in yellows a little bit and it went well,” she said. “This year we have about an 80/20 mix of reds and yellows, reds still being our main color.”

Olsen said the Red River Valley continues to produce quality potatoes.

“Our regional association, Northern Plains Potato Growers Association has continued to adapt with the changing needs and wants of our customers and consumers to promote our spuds in the best way possible,” she said. “They will be rolling out some exciting new looks for our brand and promotions as a strong potato producing region.”

2021 rewind and looking ahead

For the 2021/22 crop and marketing year, Olsen said NoKota was down in tonnage due to the drought conditions throughout the spring and summer. Even so, she said quality was average to above average on the potatoes that were shipped.

Since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, demand has been stable and improving in some respects, she said.

“We are seeing business returning to normal demand post-pandemic,” Olsen said. “We saw an increase in demand at the retail level during the pandemic due to their long shelf-life, affordability and versatility.” Since the foodservice business represents a smaller portion of NoKota’s demand, the company did not see a drastic change in overall demand during the pandemic.

Labor and truck issues continued to pressure potato growers and packers, she said. “Thankfully, we have a wonderful full-time and seasonal crew, and they can work through these challenges,” she said. “Truck availability and freight rates continued to climb most of the season, but we are lucky to have a lot of regular drivers that we can depend on to get most loads moved.”

Olsen said she is optimistic about the coming marketing season.

“Having a more ‘normal’ crop and the addition of more yellows to offer our customers will be a bright spot in our year,” she said. “It feels like it’s been quite a while since we have had a ‘normal’ season … it will be nice to get back to that.”

Through the company’s involvement in the Fresh Solutions Network, NoKota Packers is continuously looking for ways to offer specialty items and convenient packaging to appeal to the consumer.

“Side Delights, an exclusive brand of FSN, has continued to offer options that are quick to prepare and budget-friendly,” she said, noting coming additions from FSN in convenience items and updated packaging.

Retail promotions

While inflation is a worry, Olsen said potatoes have a number of advantages for consumers and retailers.

“Potatoes are a nutritious, shelf stable, versatile food option,” she said. “Potatoes pack more nutritional value dollar for dollar than any other fresh produce item. If stored properly, potatoes can last for weeks in your home. There are so many options to keep meals exciting (mashed, baked, roasted, etc.). We can offer a surety of supply through our shed and our partnership with Fresh Solution Network. The Network partners are vertically integrated, which allows us to control our supply and distribution across the country.”

Heimbuch Potatoes purchases trucking company, reports stable yellow potato acreage

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 19:04:33 GMT

Heimbuch Potatoes has purchased a trucking company, said Chad Heimbuch, owner of the Cogswell, N.D.-based potato marketer.

The name of the trucking company, C & W Transfer, LLC, will remain the same. The company currently has 15 drivers, Heimbuch said.

Heimbuch Potatoes, growing only yellow potatoes, has about the same acreage as a year ago. The general industry trend in the Red River Valley toward increased planting of yellow potatoes is likely to continue in the next five years, he said.

Market outlook

Market prospects are good, Heimbuch said, but perhaps with prices slightly lower than anticipated.

“Prices seem to be less than what we were expecting and hoping for,” he said. “With the increase in the cost of production we were hoping we could push the market a little higher.” That may come later in the season, he said.

Even at elevated prices compared with some years, Heimbuch said potatoes are the cheapest per pound item in the produce aisle.

USDA reported the average price for all Red River Valley potatoes on Oct. 1 was $19.97 per carton, up from $16.25 per carton the same time a year ago, but well off the mid-August highs of $27 per carton.

Red River Valley offers rich environment for potato growing

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 19:00:28 GMT

Red River Valley potatoes are promoted in a big way by the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association .

The association is comprised of over 200 growers and shippers across North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, according to the group’s website.

The Red River Valley includes a stretch of land between the rolling plains of North Dakota and the lakes and forests of Minnesota, according to the group’s website. The Red River Valley is the bottom of what was once Lake Agassiz, a huge glacial lake even bigger than the Great Lakes, according to the group’s website.

As the huge glacier plowed over the land, it deposited a layer of silt, clay, sand and rock that slowly transformed into the valley’s rich soil.

While red potatoes are the potato that made the Red River Valley famous, the group also notes the region is also a top producer of yellow flesh potatoes for the fresh market.

The Red River Valley is the nation’s largest producer of red potatoes and the third-largest potato-producing region overall, the group says, supplying potatoes for fresh, chip, seed and frozen processing markets.

The Red River Valley potato growers had the first and only grower-owned research farm to study and experiment with variety development, according to the group’s website, and growers now fund two research farms, each with different soil types and focused on different growing practices.

Red River Valley Fresh Potato Shippers

A & L Potato Co., East Grand Forks, Minn.
Associated Potato Growers Inc., Grand Forks, N.D.
Campbell Farms, Grafton, N.D.
Folson Farms, East Grand Forks, Minn.
H & S FreshPak, Hoople, N.D.
J.G. Hall & Sons, Edinburg, N.D.
Heimbuch Potatoes, Cogswell, N.D.
Lone Wolf Farms, Minto, N.D.
NoKota Packers, Buxton, N.D.
O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc., Crystal, N.D.
Peatland Reds, Inc., Trail, Minn.
Spokely Farms, Nielsville, Minn.

Source: Northern Plains Potato Growers Association

Round red potato market firm for Minnesota, North Dakota shippers

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:14:12 GMT

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.

In the Northern Plains Region, potatoes are grown on about 70,000 acres in North Dakota and 8,800 acres in Minnesota, according to the group.

Marketing conditions in mid-February for the Red River Valley potatoes indicated firmer prices compared with year-ago levels, according to the USDA.

Size B Round red potatoes per 50-pound carton were $19-$20.50 fob on Feb. 11, up from $14.50-$16 at the same time a year ago.
Creamer yellow potatoes per 50-pound carton were $29-$32 fob on Feb. 11 compared with $30 the same time a year ago.

Kreis said Red Reiver Valley growers planted fewer acres of red potatoes in 2021, and drought conditions reduced yields. That means marketers could finish with storage inventories anywhere from a month to six weeks ahead of normal time.

Round red prices took a jump after the holidays, Kreis said.

“With shipping costs the way they are and input costs skyrocketing, it was needed,” he said. “But it’s kind of unprecedented for that to happen.”

Truck supplies have been tight, but shippers have been taking tight transportation conditions in stride because there is no rush to ship potatoes with the shorter crop.

Some of the region’s 13 shippers will be finishing in March and April, rather than a typical May finish.

Yellow potato acreage increased for the Red River Valley in 2021, Kreis said, resulting in the region’s biggest yellow potato crop ever. About a third of the region’s fresh potato crop in 2021 was yellow potatoes, he said.

The region has been receiving good quantities of moisture over the winter, which Kreis said should lead to good planting conditions this spring.

Yellow potato demand continues to climb

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:52:03 GMT

The biggest trend this year for OC Schulz & Sons Inc., Crystal, N.D., is the continued demand for yellow potatoes.

Andy Moquist, plant manager and sales representative, said the company has seen more demand for yellow potatoes, notably 5-pound poly bags for retail customers and cartons for wholesale customers.

OC Schulz & Sons is a grower-packer-shipper selling both red and yellow potatoes.

“The biggest part of our [company’s] marketing plan is to try to ship the best potatoes we can; we find that when we do that all the marketing takes care of itself,” Moquist said.

The company sells mostly to repackers, wholesalers and occasionally direct to retail, Moquist said.

The potato market outlook is strong for yellow and russet potatoes, he said, and stable for red potatoes.

Strong start for potato shipments from Red River Valley

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:37:13 GMT

Potato movement has been good throughout the Red River Valley at the start of this season, says Carissa Olsen, president and CEO of NoKota Packers Inc. and spokesperson for Northland Potato Growers Association, East Grand Forks, Minn.

“Most sheds reported steady movement through the Thanksgiving holiday and expect the movement to continue into the New Year,” she said, adding that finding trucks has not been a problem so far this season for shippers.

Olsen said Northland Potatoes continues to work with Ten Acre Marketing for all its marketing programs.

“They have done an excellent job of highlighting the quality product we continue to produce in the Red River Valley,” she said. “They have a few fun projects in the works to promote the rich, black soil that is unique to our area. There are also several plans coming together to promote our Red River Valley on existing and new social media platforms.”

Olsen said the Red River Valley increased planted yellow acres in 2023. Sheds continue to pack in the standard 3-pound, 5-pound, 10-pound and 50-pound bags, cartons and totes, with options for additional packs as well.

Retailers who leverage consumer and seasonal trends and offer in-store merchandising can increase potato sales, Olsen said.

“Highlighting the many ways, you can prepare potatoes can be a way for retailers to increase demand and sales in this category,” Olsen said. “Potatoes are a shelf stable, affordable, nutritious vegetable that can be used in a variety of ways. As a regional grower association, we work to promote these qualities and the many ways you can prepare this single vegetable.”

NoKota Packers offering full lineup of red and yellow potatoes

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 14:16:03 GMT

NoKota Packers is locked and loaded for the 2023-24 season, says Carissa Olsen, president and CEO of the Buxton, N.D.-based marketer.

Olsen said the firm has a full shed of red and yellow potatoes for the first time in the last four years.

“Previously we had issues during the planting, growing or harvest seasons,” she said. “We are excited to be able to resume our steady supply of quality red and yellow potatoes to our customers. Having a consistent supply of potatoes will allow us to best serve our customers and their needs.”

NoKota increased its yellow potato acres and has five yellow varieties in storage this season, she said. The firm also continues to pack a variety of private labels from 3-pound bags to bulk totes.

“As a partner in Fresh Solutions Network, we are excited for a new product announcement coming after the New Year,” Olsen said.

Holiday cheer

The holiday season provides an ideal opportunity to increase potato sales as consumers prepare for group gatherings and side dishes continue to gain share of the table, Olsen said.

“Through ourselves and our partners in Fresh Solutions Network, we can offer a full range of potato products that are perfect for the holiday season — to enjoy on your own or add to your party planning menu,” she said.

In addition, Olsen said potatoes are a staple produce item that often results in sales of grocery items in other areas of the store.

“Showing customers how potatoes can pair with other items in their retail store is a wonderful way to maximize not only potato sales but sales throughout the entire store,” she said.

Olsen said NoKota Packers has seen an increase in sales to online meal-kit services like Hello Fresh, Blue Apron and more over the past few years.

“We haven’t changed much in packaging and marketing to accommodate this as they mostly take items in 50-pound cartons or bulk,” she said.

The company is investing in automation over time in its wash plant to help reduce the need for hard-to-find labor, Olsen said.

“During our downtime this summer, we will be making some significant upgrades to our washline and packing lines,” she said. “We feel that adding automation to the areas where it is hardest to fill positions will allow us to continue to offer a consistent, quality supply of red and yellow potatoes.”

New Survey Shows Labor is Serious Challenge for Ag Industry

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 18:00:19 GMT

A new survey from the Minneapolis Fed found ag bankers rank labor availability as a top concern for their farm clients.

The survey, which was conducted with ag bankers from the ninth district (Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin), found the issue is viewed as a “serious challenge” for 63% of respondents and a minor challenge for the majority of the remaining 37%.

“It’s becoming more and more difficult to obtain the labor needed to operate,” a Minnesota-based banker told the Minneapolis Fed.

The availability of livestock workers was seen as more limited than crop workers and those surveyed also shared that finding long-term help is more difficult than temporary help due to the seasonal nature of the ag industry.

As far as how this compares to past conditions, 39% of respondents said labor availability has gotten “much worse” over the past five years and 44% said it’s “a little worse”.

The Minneapolis Fed attributes this challenge to the region’s low influx of migrant workers and aging workforce.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, 10% of animal production employees in the area are foreign born, compared to 18% nationally. The number is even lower for crop production with just 5% of workers being foreign born, compared to 32% nationally.

The region also has some of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S.

(Farm Journal)

At the same time, the median age of workers in the region rose from 51 to 56 in 2021. The number of workers between 45 to 54 has declined over the past decade with a small increase of those between the ages of 25 to 44 and a large increase of those over 55.

(Farm Journal)

NoKota Packers celebrating 45th anniversary

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 13:40:19 GMT

NoKota Packers, established in 1979, is celebrating 45 years of operation, said Carissa Olsen, president and CEO.

The Buxton, N.D.-based company, part of the Fresh Solutions Network and supplier of Side Delights potato products, is planning an open house in early 2025 to celebrate the achievement, Olsen said.

“Our current owners — Ron Gjelsness, Tim Lee, Kendall Gjelsness and Christopher Gjelsness — have been steadfast in our commitment to quality, integrity and service over the 45 years we have been in business,” Olsen said. “We want to thank them for their guidance, expertise and support. They were instrumental in the newest improvements we completed this fall.”

Those improvements included an updated optical, an updated packaging line and the addition of a robotic stacker to improve efficiencies.

Olsen said the company is also updating its logo to celebrate its change of ownership (fall 2021), its 45th anniversary and a continued commitment to continuing the legacy of NoKota Packers Inc. and its values of quality, integrity and service.

NoKota Packers is in a good spot right now and moving forward with its potato supply, Olsen said.

“Demand has been really good the entire season on both red and yellow potatoes, so it takes the pressure off the North Dakota shippers to move product during the second half of the season,” she said.

Holiday boost

Olsen said potatoes hold a unique position as a holiday staple, consistently outperforming other ingredients in the festive culinary lineup.

“Potatoes are cost-effective and widely available, making them an easy choice for families preparing large holiday meals,” Olsen said. “Their extended shelf life allows for advance purchasing and preparation during busy holiday schedules. Potatoes cater to a broad audience, including vegans, vegetarians and omnivores. Whether dressed up with dairy or seasoned with plant-based ingredients, they suit various dietary preferences, ensuring everyone at the table can enjoy them.”

The diverse uses for potatoes range from creamy mashed potatoes and crispy roasted wedges to buttery scalloped potatoes and latkes.

“This adaptability makes them an indispensable component in diverse cultural and regional celebrations,” Olsen said. “ Holiday meals are steeped in tradition, and potatoes are often tied to cherished family recipes passed down through generations. This emotional connection enhances their appeal, making them more than just a side dish; they’re a holiday centerpiece.”

Even though potatoes boast versatility, affordability and universal appeal, consumption could increase if consumers knew the nutritional benefits potatoes bring, Olsen said.

“Many consumers overlook [potatoes’] nutritional benefits, such as being rich in potassium, vitamin C and fiber [when eaten with the skin],” Olsen said. “Shifting this perception requires better education on healthy preparation methods.”

Convenience is important to consumers, and some consumers perceive potatoes as time-consuming to prepare compared to precooked or prepackaged alternatives like rice or pasta.

“While frozen and pre-cut potato products address this issue, awareness and adoption of these options could be improved,” Olsen said.

Broader market trends include smaller pack sizes, such as 1- or 3-pound packs, a shift to more yellow offerings, convenience packs like steamables, microwave options and pre-cut, and transitioning to more sustainable packaging options like recyclable, biodegradable or paper, Olsen said.