Kern County potato acreage drops again
Kern County potato acreage drops again
Overall potato acreage in Kern County, CA, has dropped about 9 percent from the previous year -- from 8,727 acres planted in 2005 to 8,654 acres planted in 2006 -- according to published data from the Kern County Agricultural Commissioner's Office.
An optimist would say the glass is half full: This year marks an improvement, since overall potato acreage in Kern County dropped about 20 percent from 2004 to 2005. But high transportation costs make shipping to markets east of the Mississippi River increasingly challenging and suggest that the trend for growers in Kern County will be to grow less potato acreage.
One potato grower usually prominent in the Kern County deal -- Bakersfield, CA-based D.M. Camp & Sons -- does not have potato acreage in production this year.
Tom Franconi, a partner with Mazzei-Franconi Co. LLC in Bakersfield, CA, said that the absence of D.M. Camp & Sons from the deal takes 700 to 800 acres of whites, reds and Yukons out of summer potato production.
In addition, Santa Maria, CA, grower Owen Rice - who strictly grows russets - also is on the sidelines this year. Though his production isn't in Kern County, it overlaps the Kern County deal and affects "the later part of the deal," said Don Johnston of Johnston Farms in Edison, CA.
Mr. Franconi said that the absence of the competition from D.M. Camp & Sons would help his operation because no one has come in to fill the gap left by D.M. Camp & Sons. Kern County's white potato acreage is down 22 percent from a year ago, from 2,400 acres to 1,900 cares this year. The county's red potato acreage is down 4 percent, from 1,700 acres to 1,600 acres this year.
Kern County's potato acreage is up in two areas -- golds and russets -- by 7 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Golds climbed from 997 acres in 2005 to 1,068 acres in 2006. Russets climbed from 3,500 acres in 2005 to 3,960 acres in 2006.
Johnston Farms is down a little on white potato acreage and has about the same on russets and golds. The company does not have red potatoes.
Mazzei-Franconi Co. has about the same amount of acreage for white, red and gold potatoes. The company has 300 additional acres in russets for a total of 1,400 acres, a climb of more than 21 percent from 2005.
Mr. Johnston said that increased freight rates are putting a lot of pressure on California potato growers. It costs more than $9,000 per rail car from California to Hunts Point in New York City.
Starting May 1, there will be a 13 percent surcharge added -- up from about 8.5 percent a year ago. In June, that surcharge is slated to jump to 15 percent. The Kern County potato deal runs from May through July. Short of a considerable easing in transportation costs, companies such as Johnston Farms will have little choice but to change their strategies regarding growing potatoes.
"We're going to get used to growing less and not supplying the East Coast," said Mr. Johnston, whose company also grows oranges, mandarins, grapefruit and bell peppers.
Homegrown potatoes start to look better amid rising transportation costs, and many states grow potatoes to varying degrees. Mr. Johnston said that Kern County has experienced increasing pressure on white potatoes, where total acreage dwindles every year.
Mr. Franconi said that his potato crop "looks good," and that the harvest should start the week of May 1 after cool weather delayed the start by a week or more.
California faces its stiffest competition from Wisconsin, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Maine. But there exists competition from numerous other states as well, such as Arizona, with red, whites and golds.
Mr. Franconi said that California potato growers need the East Coast because two-thirds of potatoes grown in California are shipped out of state.
An optimist would say the glass is half full: This year marks an improvement, since overall potato acreage in Kern County dropped about 20 percent from 2004 to 2005. But high transportation costs make shipping to markets east of the Mississippi River increasingly challenging and suggest that the trend for growers in Kern County will be to grow less potato acreage.
One potato grower usually prominent in the Kern County deal -- Bakersfield, CA-based D.M. Camp & Sons -- does not have potato acreage in production this year.
Tom Franconi, a partner with Mazzei-Franconi Co. LLC in Bakersfield, CA, said that the absence of D.M. Camp & Sons from the deal takes 700 to 800 acres of whites, reds and Yukons out of summer potato production.
In addition, Santa Maria, CA, grower Owen Rice - who strictly grows russets - also is on the sidelines this year. Though his production isn't in Kern County, it overlaps the Kern County deal and affects "the later part of the deal," said Don Johnston of Johnston Farms in Edison, CA.
Mr. Franconi said that the absence of the competition from D.M. Camp & Sons would help his operation because no one has come in to fill the gap left by D.M. Camp & Sons. Kern County's white potato acreage is down 22 percent from a year ago, from 2,400 acres to 1,900 cares this year. The county's red potato acreage is down 4 percent, from 1,700 acres to 1,600 acres this year.
Kern County's potato acreage is up in two areas -- golds and russets -- by 7 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Golds climbed from 997 acres in 2005 to 1,068 acres in 2006. Russets climbed from 3,500 acres in 2005 to 3,960 acres in 2006.
Johnston Farms is down a little on white potato acreage and has about the same on russets and golds. The company does not have red potatoes.
Mazzei-Franconi Co. has about the same amount of acreage for white, red and gold potatoes. The company has 300 additional acres in russets for a total of 1,400 acres, a climb of more than 21 percent from 2005.
Mr. Johnston said that increased freight rates are putting a lot of pressure on California potato growers. It costs more than $9,000 per rail car from California to Hunts Point in New York City.
Starting May 1, there will be a 13 percent surcharge added -- up from about 8.5 percent a year ago. In June, that surcharge is slated to jump to 15 percent. The Kern County potato deal runs from May through July. Short of a considerable easing in transportation costs, companies such as Johnston Farms will have little choice but to change their strategies regarding growing potatoes.
"We're going to get used to growing less and not supplying the East Coast," said Mr. Johnston, whose company also grows oranges, mandarins, grapefruit and bell peppers.
Homegrown potatoes start to look better amid rising transportation costs, and many states grow potatoes to varying degrees. Mr. Johnston said that Kern County has experienced increasing pressure on white potatoes, where total acreage dwindles every year.
Mr. Franconi said that his potato crop "looks good," and that the harvest should start the week of May 1 after cool weather delayed the start by a week or more.
California faces its stiffest competition from Wisconsin, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Maine. But there exists competition from numerous other states as well, such as Arizona, with red, whites and golds.
Mr. Franconi said that California potato growers need the East Coast because two-thirds of potatoes grown in California are shipped out of state.
