The Minnesota Certified Seed Potato Grower’s Association has hired Perry Paschke to serve as promotions director for the group. A native of Oslo, Minn., Paschke began his career in the potato industry as a teenager employed by renowned seed grower Earl Mallinger. From there, Paschke spent 30 years serving the industry as a Minnesota Department of Agriculture potato inspector doing field inspections during the summer and shipping point inspections during the winter and spring months. He also played a key role in the post-harvest grow-out operations in Florida and Hawaii. Paschke retired from the department in 2016.
Minnesota certified seed potato growers have been distributing high-quality seed throughout North America and the world for over 100 years. In 2019, Minnesota growers certified over 75 different varieties. A complete list of the varieties can be found at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website.