Unique quality program launched for Colorado potatoes
Unique quality program launched for Colorado potatoes
Riding on their positioning with retailers as quality potato producers, Colorado growers have expanded their focus with a new program dubbed Potato Excellence Training, or PET.
This educational initiative integrates every aspect of the San Luis Valley's potato-growing operations, from grower to shipper to the chain headquarters and local stores.
"We've already been told by our customers that our quality is superior," said Colorado Potato Administrative Committee Executive Director Jim Ehrlich. "Now our PET project will illustrate the exact steps that we and our retail partners already take and can still take to ensure excellence in all aspects of their operations, with the goal of maximizing category sales and overall excellence from farm to fork."
The first step of this three-pronged program began in September with a visit from an industry specialist in evaluating agricultural practices.
"This expert came from outside our [potato] industry and state and visited our operations with no advance warning during peak harvest," Mr. Ehrlich said. "This surprise factor was critical in ensuring a candid and unbiased evaluation."
The consultant examined different harvesting and packing operations, observing and noting product handling as well as the cleanliness and food- safety aspects of sheds and storage.
A full report of this activity is pending, and Mr. Ehrlich said, "Thankfully, potatoes by their nature are very low-risk products for contamination." He added, "We know that receivers today are looking for the value-added aspect of commodities. With all potatoes being equal, what are the key points of difference that makes Colorado potatoes superior to those grown elsewhere?"
Addressing this question is Robin Lucky of VIVA Marketing Strategies. Ms. Lucky, a contract nutritionist to the committee, said, "Not only are Colorado potatoes grown at an altitude of 7,600 feet above sea level, which delivers a top-quality product, but the area's climate and isolation also prevent pests, thus delivering a more natural product. In addition, some of the unique, colored varieties of the region, such as the Purple Majesty and other specialties, have been shown in preliminary studies to contain higher level of vitamins and antioxidants."
Two of the three specific steps of the committee's PET program include field evaluation reporting, best practices guidelines for industry and retail education that includes communication with both chain headquarters and store department managers.
The final step is education, which will involve retailers in seminars, field tours and information on ensuring sanitary food preparation.
This educational initiative integrates every aspect of the San Luis Valley's potato-growing operations, from grower to shipper to the chain headquarters and local stores.
"We've already been told by our customers that our quality is superior," said Colorado Potato Administrative Committee Executive Director Jim Ehrlich. "Now our PET project will illustrate the exact steps that we and our retail partners already take and can still take to ensure excellence in all aspects of their operations, with the goal of maximizing category sales and overall excellence from farm to fork."
The first step of this three-pronged program began in September with a visit from an industry specialist in evaluating agricultural practices.
"This expert came from outside our [potato] industry and state and visited our operations with no advance warning during peak harvest," Mr. Ehrlich said. "This surprise factor was critical in ensuring a candid and unbiased evaluation."
The consultant examined different harvesting and packing operations, observing and noting product handling as well as the cleanliness and food- safety aspects of sheds and storage.
A full report of this activity is pending, and Mr. Ehrlich said, "Thankfully, potatoes by their nature are very low-risk products for contamination." He added, "We know that receivers today are looking for the value-added aspect of commodities. With all potatoes being equal, what are the key points of difference that makes Colorado potatoes superior to those grown elsewhere?"
Addressing this question is Robin Lucky of VIVA Marketing Strategies. Ms. Lucky, a contract nutritionist to the committee, said, "Not only are Colorado potatoes grown at an altitude of 7,600 feet above sea level, which delivers a top-quality product, but the area's climate and isolation also prevent pests, thus delivering a more natural product. In addition, some of the unique, colored varieties of the region, such as the Purple Majesty and other specialties, have been shown in preliminary studies to contain higher level of vitamins and antioxidants."
Two of the three specific steps of the committee's PET program include field evaluation reporting, best practices guidelines for industry and retail education that includes communication with both chain headquarters and store department managers.
The final step is education, which will involve retailers in seminars, field tours and information on ensuring sanitary food preparation.
