Acreage is up for several growers in Colorado’s San Luis Valley.
“Overall, our acreage is up about 8 percent,” said Jim Ehrlich, executive director of the Monte Vista-based Colorado Potato Administrative Committee.
Les Alderete, general manager at Center, Colo.-based Skyline Potato Co., said according to his estimations, up to 5,000 more acres were planted. However, Skyline acreage remains steady.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Agricultural Statistics Service reports 54,200 acres of potatoes planted in the San Luis Valley for 2014 with a total of 60,200 for the state of Colorado, according to an acreage report from June 30.
Those numbers are up from last year’s 49,700 and 54,800 acres, respectively.
Worley & McCullough, Inc. is adding acreage through the addition of three new growers, said Erin Cooper, grower relations and food safety specialist for the Monte Vista-based company.
Worley & McCullough grows and ships potatoes in partnership with Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC of Idaho Falls, Idaho.
The season is running a bit behind schedule, according to some grower-shippers.
“Right now, I think we’re delayed about a week or 10 days from where we normally are. That’s due to cold weather and rains in July,” Alderete said September 3.
Most growers also expect good yields.
“So far, we have found that our growers have had great luck with their crop this year and have heard that yields will be up from last year,” Cooper said.
Monte Vista-based Farm Fresh Direct expects a more normal harvest schedule, said Dave Yeager, vice president of business development. However, he said yields on some of the company’s traditional varieties are down slightly.
This year the company has focused on developing five new varieties. Yeager said those varieties should be available in good quantities.
Alderete said the overall increase should put the region back into its normal level of production.
“We’ll be back to normal yield levels this year. San Luis Valley should have more potatoes this year,” he said.
Jed Ellithorpe, a partner in Aspen Produce LLC in Center, said the increase should help with potato promotions.
“There should be plenty of potatoes for good promotions,” Ellithorpe said.
However, the higher yields could mean more competition.
“We should have better yields than last year, so there is some concern over price,” Ehrlich said, mentioning that most of the country is expected to have a good crop.
Source: The Grower