MONTE VISTA, CO — With an Aug. 18 start for its 2011 potato season, Worley & McCullough Inc. has some of the earliest loads leaving the San Luis Valley this year.

According to Trampas McCormick, sales manager for W&M, the spuds were planted in April, and a Texas line of Norkotahs that “did well in the July heat” came out first.

Bill Metz, third-generation potato farmer, carries on the legacy begun by his grandfather and father, the founders of Metz Potato Co. in Monte Vista, CO. “We pride ourselves in shipping quality, not quantity,” he said Aug. 22. Today, Mr. Metz and his son, Greg, are the face of one of the few independent potato shippers left in the San Luis Valley.

Metz Potato Co. began operations in the 1930s. Mr. Metz said his grandfather installed one of the first air conditioning units in the valley in the 1940s. “He could hold potatoes until late spring and early May,” Mr. Metz said.

CENTER, CO — The year-round fingerling program started last year has worked out well for Mountain Valley Produce, according to General Manager Ernie Myers, and the longtime San Luis Valley potato grower said that this year’s harvest was set to start on Sept. 10.

“The Colorado crop looks good,” Mr. Myers said in mid-August. “Right now we’re running California fingerlings, and we’ll start harvesting Colorado Sept. 10.”

Russets will start Sept. 15, he said, adding, “Growing conditions have been favorable — once we got into July. We saw a cold, dry and windy spring.”

McCormick & Milne LLC, headquartered in Monte Vista, CO, has entered its seventh year of operation, working with potato growers in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. Managing Member John McCormick said he expects volume marketed this season will be comparable to 2010, coming in at 8,000 loads.

Mr. Milne has been in the industry as a shipper-broker since 1982.

CENTER, CO — After short russet supplies in 2010-11, Cañon Potato Co. in Center, CO, anticipates fewer russets again this year.

Company President David Tonso said in mid-August that a cold and windy spring, followed by a dry summer, has put some growers behind a week to 10 days, and he said, “I think the [russet] crop will be short again this year and yields will likely be average.”

Arvin, CA-based Kern Ridge Growers LLC’s busiest season starts in October with organic and conventional carrots.

“Carrots are our primary crop, and we offer both organic and conventional options,” said Andrew Bianchi, sales manager. “We also handle citrus. Green bell peppers and chili peppers are available seasonally, from the first week of June through the third week of July.”