Progressive Produce Corp. is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier grower-packer-shippers of quality potatoes. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with operations in Quincy, WA.

“Most of our potatoes are for the fresh market,” said Product Manager Gary Askenaizer. “While the majority of Washington spuds are for processing, we grow strictly for the fresh market.”

Askenaizer said acreage planted to fresh production this season will be similar to last year. “While plantings were up slightly from last year, much of the increase in Washington was processor-related contracts,” he explained.

Russets are still the predominant variety grown, but acreage devoted to organic russet production has increased. “In addition, we grow a potato specifically targeted to the rapidly growing fresh-cut French fry foodservice market,” Askenaizer added.

The region experienced high heat this season and Askenaizer said, “The results of the recent extreme heat in the Northwest have yet to be realized. Much of the earlier acreage was close to finishing and, while there may be losses, we feel they will be much less than the fall acreage. Much of the later acres are still early in development and the heat may affect the yield and size of many fields. However, since they are still growing and will not be harvested for several months, the actual losses will not be known for a while.”

Determination of quality and sizing is a wild card. “Prior to the heat wave, the crops had been progressing at an amazing rate and were earlier than normal and sizing up faster than in the past. Now, we will have to wait and see the effect of the heat wave,” he commented.

Asked about Progressive’s customer base, Askenaizer said, “We have a nice balance between retail and wholesale. Most of our retail and wholesale customers have been with us for many years and depend on us on a year-round basis. Our foodservice business has expanded in the last few years with our successful Hollywood Fries program.”

Potatoes are marketed under the “Pacific Gold,” “Hollywood Fries” and “Nature’s Bounty Organic” labels. “We market our potatoes nationally, with a concentration on the West Coast, especially California and the Pacific Northwest,” Askenaizer said. “We do some export into Canada and Mexico.”

This season, Progressive plans to expand its Hollywood Fries and Nature’s Bounty Organic potato programs.