Green Tree looking at a typical season
Green Tree looking at a typical season
Green Tree International, headquartered in Visalia, CA, with a brokerage office in Wenatchee, WA, has already begun marketing fresh potatoes from eastern Washington. “Everyone has been on schedule,” Sales Associate Braden Hosking told The Produce News July 30. “Things are on track.” Overall, he expects volume for 2012 to be similar to recent years.
Earlier in the production season, weather conditions were cool and wet. “The heat came in during July,” he stated. Looking at this year’s crop, he said, it is too early to tell how weather may affect overall volume and quality.
In all, Green Tree works with five Washington producers, and Mr. Hosking said production acreage has remained relatively stable. To date, growers are seeing good skin sets.
Reds and yellow are currently being harvested in eastern Washington. When the harvest winds down in September, production will shift to Mt. Vernon, WA, where the majority of reds, yellows and whites are grown. Digging in Mt. Vernon continues into the winter and can extend to the spring if quality is good and volume is sufficient.
Potatoes are moved to all market sectors throughout North America under grower labels. “Sales have been steady,” Mr. Hosking stated.
When the Washington potato season ends, Mr. Hosking said, Green Tree travels to other growing regions to source product.
