Historic record speaks well for Wada Farms
Historic record speaks well for Wada Farms
For more than 75 years, Wada Farms has staked its reputation on the production of Idaho potatoes that exceed customer expectations. Kevin Stanger, senior vice president of sales and marketing of the Wada Farms Marketing Group, said the company pays attention to details, both big and small, to reinforce this reputation.
Wada Farms' manifest has broadened beyond the popular Burbank and Norkotah varieties. “We’re continually adding and growing our product line,” Stanger told The Produce News. “We are offering organic russet, red and yellow potatoes this year. We have “Chipper” potatoes that seem be a big growing segment with our foodservice customers. Our “Smalls” line of product, which is our mini varieties, is also a growing segment in the retail area that has taken off.”
Wada Farms also provides its customers with sweet potato and onion programs that Stanger said continue to gain in popularity. “We’re adding staff and production every year with those commodities,” he commented. “We are continually refining and updating our packing facility in Idaho. We’ve added new equipment and lines for our colored potatoes and our organic potatoes.”
According to Stanger, Wada Farms' organic potato production is growing, and he estimates acreage will double or triple in the next two years.
Looking at the 2015 production season, Stanger said the crop is looking good. “Quality and sizing on the Norkotahs are very good,” he stated. “The Burbanks crop hasn’t been dug yet. But the quality looks to be good, with sizing slightly smaller than the Norkotahs, but a good average sized crop. Mother Nature can still play a factor in things. But we’re looking to a good crop year this upcoming season.”
Weather has generally been favorable. “We had some days of hot weather early on, but overall a good growing summer. Currently, we’ve been hit with some rain this week that has shut harvest down a few days. But forecast is to warm back up and temperatures and dry weather [are returning] to normal,” he said in mid-September.
The early Norkotah harvest began in mid-August. “Once we hit September, the harvest is really ramping up and will be full swing until around Oct. 10 or so,” Stanger said.
Wada Farms Marketing Group moves potatoes through the United States, especially into areas such as the Midwest, Southeast and East Coast which are traditionally strong markets for Idaho. Stanger said some volume is also moved offshore.
