It was the earliest start of new potatoes from Kern County, CA, in memory, according to longtime sales representative and observer Tom Franconi of Mazzei-Franconi Co. LLC in Edison, CA.

“Typically, we would start around May 1,” he said, “but this year there were Kern County potatoes on the market on April 21.”

This is the same story that growers and shippers of virtually every California crop have been telling this spring.California new potatoes out of Kern County hit the market April 21, about 10 days earlier than normal. A mild winter with very little frost and lots of warm spring days has led to an earlier-than-normal season for the vegetables on the coast, the fruit in the Central Valley and now the potato crop in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Gary Askenaizer, a sales representative for Progressive Produce Corp. in Los Angeles had the same information. “I can tell you the shippers did start earlier this year, and quality has been excellent so far.”

He noted that the beginning of California’s new potato crop actually started earlier in April with a little production from the Coachella Valley.

“Several shippers do have acreage down in the Coachella Valley and they do that to get an earlier start on shipping product before Bakersfield gets started,” Askenaizer said.

The Coachella Valley production tends to act as a test run for the beginning of the longstanding and traditional Kern deal.

“It allows the shippers to start talking to the buyers a bit earlier and get them ready for the start of the Bakersfield deal,” Askenaizer said.

This year those conversations were most likely focused on how this deal has transitioned over the years.  

“It’s not much of a russet deal anymore,” said Franconi. “We are down to 506 acres this year.  It’s dropping every year. Last year we had about 800 acres of russets.”

After checking historical records, Askenaizer quantified the change in the Bakersfield potato deal over the past decade.

“In 2004, the acreage for russets in Bakersfield was 4,667 acres,” he said. “This year it is 506 acres. That’s quite a drop.”

The drop in russet acreage corresponds with the overall drop in acreage in the past 10 years. In 2004, total acreage of all varieties planted in Bakersfield was 10,922; this year it is half of that at 5,398. The more than 4,000-acre decline in russets represents a vast majority of the difference.

Kern County is still an important production area for reds, Yukon Golds and even white potatoes, as well as some specialty items such as fingerlings.

Franconi said the “new” potato moniker refers to the shift from storage potatoes, which fills produce shelves through the winter and early spring, to the first fresh potatoes, which come from California in the spring and are noted for a thinner skin.

“The storage potatoes are starting to look tired and retailers are looking for the fresh crop,” Askenaizer said. “In the past, retailers were definitely willing to pay for the increased cost that comes with growing potatoes in California.”

For the russets, he noted that storage facilities have improved, so the difference in appearance isn’t as noticeable between storage russets and the new crop of the season. Consequently, California has lost its edge with that variety.

Franconi said red potatoes are now the number one potato crop grown in Kern County, with about 2,000 acres this year.

The Yukon Gold potato is gaining in popularity and its acreage has increased over the years. This year’s total of more than 1,500 acres represents a significant increase in the past decade.

White potatoes have lost some acreage, but at 1,300 acres the crop is still substantial with its devotees.  

Both Franconi and Askenaizer believe potatoes in Kern County will continue to be a viable crop, though there is heavy competition for the ground on an ongoing basis from other crops.  

But both men said there are plenty of retailers that look forward to the beginning of the season and the opportunity to provide their customers with brand new, fresh potatoes in May, June and early July.