The oft-repeated phrase throughout Colorado is “May was wet,” and at fourth-generation Strohauer Farms in LaSalle, CO, north of Denver the month exceeded mere “wet.”

Harry Strohauer, third generation of the farming family, said, “We had a lot of rain in May. We had our average yearly total in just that one month. “

Strohauer said his crops of specialty potatoes will be harvested on schedule, and his onions are slightly later than normal.

The harvest schedule is for conventional Yukons in New Mexico to start the week of July 13, followed by conventional russets and fingerlings from that area the week of July 20. All New Mexico product is trucked to Colorado for packing and shipping.

Harvest of organic fingerlings and Yukons from the LaSalle fields will start the week of Aug. 10, and all specialty onions will start in late September.

Looking at the water situation, Strohauer said, “Lots of water in the mountains, and the South Platte River has been out of its banks for much of the spring.”

He continued, “Even with the water table at less than three feet below surface in places, we have very little well pumping due to how the state administers water.”

In the 2015 potato category, Strohauer Farms is shipping conventional and organic russets, Yukon Gold, reds, Banana Fingerlings, Rose Finn/Ruby Crescent Fingerlings, French Fingerlings, Amarosa Fingerlings and Purple Fingerlings.

In the specialty onion category the farm will have conventional and organic white, red and gold pearl and boiler onions, cipollinis and shallots.

“In addition, we will have organic three-pound yellow, red and white onion packs,” Strohauer said.

New this season will be conventional red potatoes from New Mexico added to the bulk potato crop, and in the onion category the farm is growing organic mainstays specifically for the three-pound consumer packs.

“The demand for organic products is increasing yearly,” Strohauer said. “We are seeing the movement towards organics at the national level. Retailers are seeking more organic products to offer their customers, and fortunately, we can fill that niche in both the potato and onion categories. While supporting this movement, we still have the ability to continue to meet the needs of customers we are currently working with and are able to expand to new venues as well.”

He said, “Strohauer Farms is shipping product across the United States, as well as focusing on promoting local and regional products to our specific area. The demand for specialty potatoes and onions, especially organic, continues to increase, and we are eager to meet those needs. As we’ve expanded our operation, we’ve expanded our sales team to now include Amber and Henry.”

Amber is his daughter, the farm’s fourth generation. Her father said, “We are excited to have Amber join the family business. She moved back home to Colorado at the end of April from Nashville, TN. She had moved to the South a few years ago to attend Vanderbilt University, majoring in human and organizational development. After graduating, she stayed in Nashville and worked for Asurion as a compensation analyst. She now joins us on our sales and marketing team.”

Also on the Strohauer sales and marketing team is Henry Nira, and Strohauer said, “He comes to our farm from the University of Wyoming, where he studied ag business and earlier this year attended the Potato Industry Leadership Institute. He’s currently assisting our operation in New Mexico and getting a feel for all aspects of our operation.”

Along with the new faces are new additions to the packing warehouse.

Strohauer said, “Two seasons ago we implemented major changes and additions to our packing warehouse. We continue to implement additional revisions to better streamline the operation. This season we are adding updated traceability and electronic warehouse management components to further meet the needs of our customers and their food safety standards. The three-pound organic consumer packs were added late in the season last year due to increased demand from our customers. The pack features yellow, red and white onions in high-graphic packaging that includes a number of ‘Favorite Onion Recipes’ that we received from the National Onion Association. The packaging also shares handling, storage, health and nutrition information.”