Potato Bytes

12.19.2023

News from Northland Potato Growers Association

Serving the potato industry in North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you from the staff at Northland Potato Growers Association!

Donavon - Jacey - Todd - Ted

PUBLISHING SCHEDULE - We will take a week off for Christmas; the next issue of Potato Bytes will be sent out on Wednesday, January 3rd.

VanRay Brothers Honored with North Dakota Irrigation Excellence Award

From the Jamestown Sun

Brothers Bill, Jeff and Kent VanRay were honored by the North Dakota Irrigation Association (NDIA) with the Irrigation Excellence Award.

The award, given annually by the NDIA to individuals who exhibit leadership, outstanding service and advancement in the irrigation industry in North Dakota, was presented Dec. 7 during the 60th annual Joint North Dakota Water Convention and Irrigation Workshop in Bismarck.

Third-generation farmers from Pingree, North Dakota, the VanRays began their foray into irrigation more than 25 years ago with an investment in pivot irrigation systems for producing potatoes. The VanRays are committed stewards of land and water resources and through the implementation of technology, they continue to innovate with their irrigation systems using both ground and surface water. The brothers are also dedicated to investing in their community and the people who reside there.

The VanRay brothers are continuing their legacy of stewardship, community relations, economic development, innovation, management and good farming practices with their sons – five of whom are now actively engaged in their irrigation and farming operation.

File photo courtesy NDSU

Strong Start for Potato Shipments from Red River Valley

By Tom Karst, The Packer

Potato movement has been good throughout the Red River Valley at the start of this season, says Marissa Olsen, president and CEO of NoKota Packers Inc. and spokesperson for Northland Potato Growers Association, East Grand Forks, Minn.

“Most sheds reported steady movement through the Thanksgiving holiday and expect the movement to continue into the New Year,” she said, adding that finding trucks has not been a problem so far this season for shippers.

Olsen said Northland Potatoes continues to work with Ten Acre Marketing for all its marketing programs.

“They have done an excellent job of highlighting the quality product we continue to produce in the Red River Valley,” she said. “They have a few fun projects in the works to promote the rich, black soil that is unique to our area. There are also several plans coming together to promote our Red River Valley on existing and new social media platforms.”

Olsen said the Red River Valley increased planted yellow acres in 2023. Sheds continue to pack in the standard 3-pound, 5-pound, 10-pound and 50-pound bags, cartons and totes, with options for additional packs as well.

Retailers who leverage consumer and seasonal trends and offer in-store merchandising can increase potato sales, Olsen said.

“Highlighting the many ways, you can prepare potatoes can be a way for retailers to increase demand and sales in this category,” Olsen said. “Potatoes are a shelf stable, affordable, nutritious vegetable that can be used in a variety of ways. As a regional grower association, we work to promote these qualities and the many ways you can prepare this single vegetable."

Red River Valley Yellow Potato Acreage Grows on Market Demand

By Ann Baily, AgWeek

North Dakota and Minnesota farmers have responded to the increase in demand for yellow potatoes by replacing more than a third of their acres with them.

Consumers have increased their consumption of yellow potatoes as that variety has become more available in grocery stores than other varieties, such as red-colored potatoes, said Kayla Vogel, Potatoes USA senior marketing manager.

Yellow potatoes made up 14% of volume sales and red potatoes made up 13% in the U.S. during the July- September quarter, according to Potatoes USA. Russet potatoes made up the bulk of sales — 62%.

In 2023, yellow potatoes made up about 40% of the potatoes grown by Red River Valley farmers in the two states, said Ted Kreis, Northern Plains Potato Growers Association Potato Bytes newsletter editor.

That’s a 37% increase from about 15 years ago when Red River Valley farmers produced about 120,000 hundredweight of potatoes. In 2023, farmers produced 1.7 million hundredweight of yellow potatoes, resulting in Red River Valley farmers becoming one of the largest yellow potato producers in the United States.

About 7,500 of the 19,000 acres that northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota farmers grow for the fresh market are yellow, said Andy Robinson, North Dakota State University Extension and University of Minnesota Extension potato agronomist...

Click here to read the remainder of this extensive article

News from the National

Potato Council

Issued December 15, 2023

December 1 Potato Stocks Higher in ND and Lower in MN than One Year Ago - USDA

North Dakota growers, dealers, and processors held 19.0 million cwt of potatoes in storage on December 1, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Current stocks represent 73% of the 2023 production and is up 2.8 million cwt from 2022.

Minnesota growers, dealers, and processors held 12.3 million cwt of potatoes in storage on December 1. Current stocks represent 67% of the 2023 production and is down 800,000 cwt from 2022.

Total stocks are defined as all potatoes on hand, regardless of use, including those that will be lost through future shrinkage and dumping.

Access the National publication for the Potato Stocks release at:

https://usda.library.cornell.edu/concern/publications/47429915b

Potato Bytes TV & Movie Trivia

Last Week's Photo

Last week's trivia photo was from 2023 hit movie Barbie starring Margo Robbie and Ryan Gosling.

It was answered correctly by Mark Thompson, Peggy Vanyo, Karen Radke, Bernie Mullen, Sara Hoverson, Dorothy Viker, Vicky Boyd, Darcy Blazek, Dan Monson, Keith Bjorneby, Carla Vigen, Craig Magnusson, John Lundeen, Mike Sitzmann, Victoria Stamper, Paul Dolan, Chris Homes and Geoff Price.