Farm Fresh Direct sees good quality, smaller profile from its Colorado farms
Farm Fresh Direct sees good quality, smaller profile from its Colorado farms
Farm Fresh Direct, an alliance of potato growers based in the San Luis Valley of Colorado and with farming partners in Kansas, Nebraska and Nevada, is reporting good quality with smaller sizing coming from its Colorado farms this season.
Operations Manager Lee Jackson said in late August that quality this season is better than with 2012’s crop, and the smaller sizing means less misshaping as well.
Yields are down, and he said, “I will be surprised if we hit trend line yields because of the three weeks in late July and August of cloudy weather.” He added, “We are always guessing until we get the harvester in the fields.”
The alliance is shipping russets, yellows, reds, whites, fingerlings and organics, with certified yellows and reds in the organic line. Three growers produce organic spuds, and two sheds pack and ship. Its Colorado fingerlings are pinks and yellows, Jackson said.
Organics are seeing increased demand, and Farm Fresh Direct growers have increased their acreage based on that trend. Jackson said overall acreage in the San Luis Valley is down, and product is tighter this season.
“We are working to market our crop on an even keel,” he said.