Thanksgiving saw big bump in movement for Worley & McCullough
Thanksgiving saw big bump in movement for Worley & McCullough
Potato movement for Monte Vista, CO, company Worley & McCullough picked up nicely during the Thanksgiving period, according to Grower Relations/Food Safety Officer Erin Cooper, who said the uptick in traffic was throughout the month of November.
“Thanksgiving was quite busy this year,” Cooper said in early January. “We saw an increase in traffic, but it was spread throughout November which made production more efficient for the warehouse.” She went on to say that “due to the influx of business in November, December slowed slightly.”
But, Cooper noted, “When comparing this year to last year’s holiday season, the all-around movement for our shed was up.”
Aligned with Wada Farms Marketing in Idaho for domestic sales of Worley & McCullough russets, the fifth-generation family operation in the San Luis Valley continues to handle exports and sales of B-size potatoes from the Colorado facility. On the export side, approximately 25 percent of W&M volume goes to Mexico.
Cooper said the Bs are moving well this season, adding on a personal note, “I love Bs. Their size allows them to cook more quickly, and they are easier to dice and slice. They are perfect for healthier meals like roasted potatoes, soups and roasts, especially when you leave the skin on to get the benefits the nutrients in the skin provide.”
Looking at one major emerging demographic, Cooper added, “As the millennials become a market that the potato industry would like to capture, I find that this will be a popular potato item because of the convenience that they add. Consequently, we are looking to push 5-pound B size to some of our large retail business in the upcoming year.”
She said, “We have seen an uptick this year in demand for Bs — and not just from what I take home. Hopefully by next year we will see a larger increase”
Cooper had said going into the season she expects W&M will run 1.2 million hundredweight through its shed this shipping season. During the two seasons since it formed the alignment with Wada, the Colorado operation has become one of the top russet suppliers for Walmart, with volume coming from four primary growers and three to four outside growers.
Working alongside Cooper in the San Luis Valley office is Office Manager Victoria Peters, and the two women have overseen GlobalGAP and HACCP certification at the shed and on the farms.
Cooper said Worley & McCullough doesn’t plan any major changes going into the new year, adding, “We specialize in russets and will continue to do what we do best.”
