‘New’ MVPG general manager continues family tradition
‘New’ MVPG general manager continues family tradition
MONTE VISTA, CO — Though he’s new to the position of general manager, assuming responsibilities with the retirement of the operation’s longtime GM, Jason Tillman has several years’ experience at Monte Vista Potato Growers under his belt.
Tillman is going into his fourth year MVPG and now sits in the manager’s chair occupied for 22 years by his dad, Steve Tillman.
His unique perspective of the business comes from working with his father in sales prior to taking on the tasks of general manager, and now Jason wears both hats. He is the sole salesperson for the seven-grower cooperative association, and he told The Produce News on Aug. 21 that focus is primarily retail customers, most of which are out of state.
“Most of what we ship is five- and 10-pound bags and 50-pound cartons,” Tillman said. “For the past several years we’ve sold primarily retail, working with large chains.” This season the main market area is the Southeast with loads also to the 26-kilometer buffer area in Mexico, he said.
Russet varieties such as Canela, Mesa, Norkotahs and Centennials make up 90 percent of MVPG’s production, with yellows the balance. All are conventionally grown, and Tillman said the cooperative expects to ship approximately 500,000 cwt again this year.
Some of the growers in the group saw weather-related damage to their crops, but Tillman said nothing severe was reported.
“A few guys were hit by light hail, but there was no significant damage. Also, I’d say our acreage is back to normal this year after being down somewhat for a few years,” he added.
Tillman went on to say 2014 has shaped up as “a pretty good year as far as growing conditions. We had a normal run-off, and that’s a plus. And we had monsoon rains, another plus.”
Because of more rain during the season, spuds had sized a bit slower, but Tillman said he expects to start running the shed “in mid-October, which is the usual timing.”
Work at the facility has been general maintenance with the addition of New Tec baggers, and Tillman said the shipping facility is SCS GlobalGAP-certified.
“Most of the farms are GAP-certified as well, and we can trace our potatoes back to the field where they were grown,” Tillman said of food-safety and traceback protocol.
As for the future of the San Luis Valley’s potato industry, Tillman said he doesn’t foresee drastic changes in the next five years.
“If the water holds like it did this season, I think we’ll be all right,” he said.
