LaSalle, CO — While Strohauer Farms in LaSalle, CO, has kept its overall acreage steady over the past year, it has upped planting in specific categories.

According to Marketing Director Tanya Fell, “Specialty fingerling potato acreage is up slightly as well as the organic acreages due to market demands.

At the same time, Strohauer, along with other farms located north of Denver in Larimer and Weld counties, struggles with water as the result of a recent decision by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper not to allow long-idle pumps to be Active on the farm are all five members of the Strohauer family: Katie, Amber, Tad, April and Harry. (Photo courtesy of Strohauer Farms)turned back on.

Harry Strohauer, president and owner of the farm, said, “Vegetable production continues to drop due to the uncertainty of water availability. We have an aquifer at historically high levels at the time of a major drought. There is no question in my mind that we are over-augmenting.

“For the past three years our operation has lost potato crop due to the high water table and salts. My personal home and many others have had water seeping into their basements as well, and my basement is only four feet below the surface.”

He added, “We did not plant 25 percent of our corn acres thinking we had enough water for the rest of our crops this season. We now only have enough water to cover the potato and specialty onion crops completely and will only be able to sustain 15-20 percent of the corn crop that we planted.”

Still, the family-owned-and-operated farm was meeting harvest and shipping schedules, and Ms. Fell said July 2 that conventional Yukon Golds are expected to start shipping July 27, followed by conventional fingerlings the week of July 29 and conventional russets on Aug. 1. Conventional Purple Peruvian fingerlings will ship the week of Aug. 12.

The farm’s expanding organic line of product will commence with organic fingerlings and organic Yukons the week of Aug. 12. Organic Purple Peruvian fingerlings will start shipping the week of Sept. 30, she said.

All of Strohauer’s specialty onions will start the week of Sept. 16.

The complete potato product line is made up of conventional and organic russets, Yukon Golds, Banana fingerlings, Rose Finn and Ruby Crescent fingerlings, French fingerlings and the Purple Peruvian. Specialty onions from Strohauer Farms are organic and conventional white, red and gold pearls, boilers, cipollinis and shallots.

In the shed new equipment is being installed to streamline the bulk shipping process, and a sizing and sorting line is being installed for the specialty onions and shallots.

“As we continue to expand and focus on specialty onions, our goal is to be a one-stop shop for all specialty onions and shallots both organically and conventionally,” Mr. Strohauer said. “Strohauer Farms is moving forward to have a traceback program in place this season. As for food safety, we are organically, GAP- and GHP-certified.”

Using social media, Strohauer Farms has a photo blog on Facebook that tracks its crop this season, and recipes, tips and cooking ideas are added weekly.