L&M Cos. Inc., a diversified produce growing, shipping and marketing organization headquartered in Raleigh, NC, markets potatoes of various types from several growing areas around the country, from Washington state to Florida. Idaho is an important component of that mix, according to Les Alderete, director of grower relations in the Idaho Falls, ID office.

“The L&M program has taken a big step this year,” Mr. Alderete told The Produce News. “We have partnered with High Country Potato,” a potato grower and shipper located in Rexburg, ID. “L&M will have a year-round Idaho program this year. We look forward to growing our Idaho business.”

The partnership with High Country is “a long-term commitment” on the part of both companies, he said. “We feel it is a good fit.”

L&M announced the partnership with High Country in a press release in June “High Country is one of Idaho’s largest packers, currently shipping about 1.5 million sacks [hundredweight] annually,” the release stated. “By teaming up with High Country, L&M becomes a solid industry leader in russet potatoes and completes its year-round program.”

The release quoted Todd Cornelison, president of High Country, as saying, “L&M was looking for an Idaho source to complete its potato program, and High Country needed an experienced marketing arm. It was perfect timing.”

High Country was founded by Todd Cornelison’s father, Keith Cornelison, in 1983. “As a second-generation Idaho farmer, Keith Cornelison began farming on his own in 1974” and ventured into the fresh pack side of the business nine years later, according to the release. He retired in 2006, handing the company over to his son. “High Country prides itself in keeping the philosophy which Keith started — its commitment to hard work and long-term partnerships.”

With regard to the 2012 Idaho potato crop, “what we are seeing on the crop right now is the Norkotah crop looks really good” with good yields and good size profile on what High Country had run so far, Mr. Andrete said Aug. 24. On the Burbanks, which were still a few weeks away from harvest, he expected to see “just a normal crop,” with weather factors — spring frost and summer heat — “taking some of the top off” the crop. “I think you are going to see certain fields that are roughened up and they have a little bit lower yields.”

The last few years, “we have had phenomenal crops” in Idaho, he said. But this year, “if you take the whole Idaho crop for the whole year, I think it is going to be more normal.”