Maverick movement steady domestically and to Mexico
Maverick movement steady domestically and to Mexico
Roger Christensen, who co-owns Maverick Potato Co. in Center, CO, with Michael Kruse, said the operation’s second full season could well run a bit longer than last year’s, with quality and supplies both good at the midwinter point.
Maverick Potato Co. co-owner Roger Christensen with outgoing Colorado Agriculture Commissioner John Salazar and San Luis Valley potato grower Dave Warsh at the 2014 Colorado Ag Day in Denver. (Photo by Kathleen Thomas Gaspar)
“Quality is holding up well,” Christensen said the first week of January. “Large-size cartons are hard to come by, but we’re right on track for another great year, and we are looking at finishing up in mid- to late May.” That clean-up date is slightly later than last year’s, and he noted that to extend the season, a late-storing variety was grown in 2014.
“Business has been good, and Mexico has been very responsive this season. Volume going there is very good,” Christensen continued.
He said yellows are moving well, and the organic spuds, which were bumped in volume in anticipation of greater demand this season, are now gone.
“They just flew out the door,” Christensen said. “We’re looking at increasing our organic acreage again in 2015 in both certified russets and yellows.”
Going into the 2014-15 shipping season, the San Luis Valley potato veteran said quality of his Colorado spuds was excellent, although limited on larger sizes. The company has kept pace with demand, and Maverick is using “a lot of certified seed” for the export markets.
Colorado shippers enjoy a logistical advantage in getting potatoes to the Mexico market, which represents a large segment of Maverick’s sales. Christensen said the russets have been especially well-received.
The grower-shipper offers several varieties of russets, both organic and conventional, including Canelas and Norkotahs, and conventional Rio Grandes and Centennials are grown as well.
Food safety is top-of-mind, and Maverick is SCS GlobalGAP-certified at both farm and shed level. The longtime growers also use drip irrigation and green manure rotation to offset water shortage issues in the area.