“We are proud to announce that our PTI [Produce Traceability Initiative] system was installed this year,” David Hickman, vice president of Dublin Farms Inc. in Horntown, VA, told The Produce News. “The barcode system gives the GPS location of the field where every potato was actually grown, improving traceability on our products and keeping us on the leading edge of food safety.”

In 2010, the company was certified Good Agriculture Practices and it has recertified every year. In 2013, it was certified under the new GAP Harmonized audit.

Dublin Farms is a grower, shipper and packer of potatoes for the fresh market. The company also grows snap beans for processing, and grain crops like corn, soy beans and wheat for the poultry industry. These crops are also beneficial for rotation purposes. Its fresh produce is sold direct to retailers, including chain stores, as well as to wholesalers, re-packers and brokers at terminal markets.

Another new improvement at Dublin Farms this year is the installation of a new sizer for “B” size potatoes, which was being installed the first week of June. Hickman explained that the sizer will insure uniformity.

“Upgrades like PTI and the new sizer must be ongoing and consistent in order to meet the demands of the market and the consumer,” he noted.

“Last year, our major project was the launch of our new website,” he continued. “It was designed with our customers in mind. It provides daily photos of what we’re currently shipping so customers can see the quality and color of the potatoes, and it provides daily prices. It also enables customers to place their orders directly on the website. Although we are getting some orders through the website, I really prefer speaking to our customers person-to-person. This level of service cannot be matched by a computer program.”

Dublin Farms ships its potatoes from Miami to Montreal. In the early part of the season, the company ships heaviest into Northeastern cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York City, Boston, Syracuse and Buffalo. When North Carolina and other southern states stop shipping, it begins moving potatoes in those directions.

The company produces several varieties each of round, white, redskin and yellow flesh potatoes. Its potato movement runs through mid-August — in what Hickman said is a six-week deal. The company digs, packages and refrigerates its potatoes overnight prior to shipping.

Dublin Farms does not store its spring crop of potatoes. Hickman explained that areas that typically store are in the more northern states that dig in September. Potatoes produced in Virginia are harvested, packed, and refrigerated to bring the temperature down to about 55 degrees and then shipped.

“This system extends the shelf life of the potatoes considerably,” said Hickman. “Potatoes that are harvested in July come out of the ground hot. Cooling them removes the moisture, and that’s what helps to extend the shelf life.”

This year’s crop, like others on the East Coast, will be running a little later than normal due to cold and wet early spring which delayed planting by about two weeks.

“We’re now getting great weather and the crop has already made up about a week of that lost time,” said Hickman. “We anticipate starting on June 30, which, give or take a couple of days, will be pretty much in our normal window.”

Hickman said that the demand for Eastern Shore potatoes is consistently good, saying that, “Potato consumption is up. Consumers are more educated than ever on the high nutrition and the outstanding value for their money. The market is always ready for the new spring crop when it starts coming on.”

Last year, the company also added 50-pound cartons to its line. It typically packs in five- and 10-pound poly bags, and five to 50-pound paper bags.

“Our 2,000-pound totes go to re-packers,” Hickman added. “Our five- and 10-pound poly premium bags are mesh for extra ventilation. Our potatoes carry the ‘Dublin Farms’ brand, and we also pack under private labels.”

Hickman’s grandfather started growing potatoes in 1870, and the commodity has been in some part of the Dublin Farms’ company ever since.

“My brother, Phil and I started the current operation in 1974,” said Hickman. “Once we’re through the potato crop we grow snap beans which are harvested in early to mid-October. Corn for grain is harvested from Labor Day to October, and then we harvest soybeans from the first of October through Thanksgiving. Then we focus on improvements and upgrades in preparation for the next potato crop. We start seed potting the first of February, and then, weather permitting, begin putting the plants in the ground in early March.”