Potato Country July/August 2020

Essentials:

PotatoCountry.com • July/August 2020 Western focus. National impact.

transportation & Packing

For the Advertiser Index click here

Potato Market Uncertainties Continue Road to a Million Pounds Preventing Early Dying Complex

The Start of a Bad Year for Nematodes and a Good Year for Potatoes

High-yielding, high-quality potatoes begin with Telone® II soil fumigant. Telone creates a zone of protection around roots, providing the highest level of nematode management while also managing wireworm. Blending Telone with chloropicrin will also help manage soil-borne diseases, such as Verticillium wilt, common scab and black dot. By significantly reducing nematode populations, Telone becomes part of an effective long-term nematode management program.

Telone® is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Telone is labeled under FIFRA 24(c) for nematode suppression in cotton and as an at-plant application only in the state of Georgia. In Florida, Telone is labeled under FIFRA 24(c) for nematode suppression with additional use restrictions in certain counties, including: Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter and Volusia. The use of Telone is prohibited in Broward and Dade counties.

Consult the Supplemental Labeling for the specific restrictions in your area or call 800-258-3033 for more information. Some products are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Consult the label before purchase or use for full details. Always read and follow label directions. ®Telone is a trademark of The Dow Chemical Company. ©2020 Corteva

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w w w . Po t a t o Co u n t r y . c o m

Vol. 36 No. 5

PO Box 333 Roberts, Idaho 83444 Phone: (208) 520-6461

Country Western focus. National impact.

Table of Contents

Contacts Dave Alexander ...........................dave@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Publisher, Advertising

Denise Keller ..............................editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Editor

Andy Jensen.......................................... www.nwpotatoresearch.com

July/August 2020

Insect Identification

Jeff Miller .....................................................jeff@millerresearch.com Disease Identification

Bruce Huffaker ................................................. napmn@napmn.com

6 On a Mission

Market Report

10 Road to a Million Pounds 12 Selecting Soil Amendments, Nematicides to Best Prevent Potato Early Dying Complex

16 Transportation and Packing Essentials Buyers' Guide

20 Potatoes Continue to Reign as America’s Favorite Vegetable Potatoes USA

21 During COVID-19, Sustainability Takes Center Stage

Dale Lathim ............................................................... dale@pgw.net

Potato Growers of Washington

Brian Feist ...................................brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Operations Manager, Advertising

EDITORIAL INFORMATION Potato Country is interested in newsworthy material related to potato production and marketing.

Contributions from all segments of the industry are welcome. Submit news releases, new product submissions, stories and photos via email to: editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com.

ADVERTISING For information about advertising rates, mechanics, deadlines, copy submission, mailing, contract conditions and other information, call Dave Alexander at (208) 520-6461 or email dave@PotatoCountry.com.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION U.S. $24 per year / Canada $40 per year / Foreign $80 per year Subscriptions can be entered online at www.potatocountry.com or call (503) 724-3581.

Email address changes/corrections to brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com or send to Potato Country, PO Box 333, Roberts, ID 83444.

Potato Country magazine (ISSN 0886-4780), is published eight times per year and mailed under a standard rate mailing permit at Idaho Falls, Idaho and at additional mailing offices.

It is produced by Columbia Media Group, PO Box 333, Roberts, ID 83444 Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose without the express written permission of Columbia Media Group. For information on reprints call (208) 520-6461.

National Potato Council

24 Potato Market Uncertainties Continue

Editorial Board

Market Report

Gary Roth

Chris Voigt

Executive Director

Executive Director

Washington State Potato Commission

Oregon Potato Commission

(509) 765-8845

(503) 239-4763

Jeff Bragg holds potato berries that are crosses of Purple Reign with other varieties in the field. See the story on page 6.

On The Cover A truck waits as potatoes are loaded.

Check out the latest products to help get your spuds from field to market in the Transportation and Packing Essentials Buyers’ Guide starting on page 16.

Photo by Angie Rader

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July / August 2020

Departments 15 19 22 26

Disease Quiz Insect Quiz In the News PGW Column

Nina Zidack

Frank Muir

Jim Ehrlich

Montana Seed Potato Certification

Idaho Potato Commission

Colorado Potato Administrative Committee

Director

(406) 994-3150

President/CEO

(208) 334-2350

President/CEO

(719) 852-3322

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MADE IN THE USA

ON A MISSION Story and photos by Bill Schaefer

T

raveling full circle can be a long journey. That’s how Jeff Bragg succinctly sums up his career.

It was in the summer of 2012 in Donnelly, Idaho, as Bragg was walking through a potato field he was preparing to chemigate when he spotted a green frog lying on a potato leaf taking in the sun with its eyes closed.

“I picked that frog up. I was amazed.

I don’t normally see life in the field,” Bragg says, recalling that moment from eight years ago. “I picked that little frog up and took it way out of the pasture. I had a mix going on of some insecticide because I had found an aphid in that field, and so I started up the chemigation pump and sprayed the field and chemigated the field. Then I knew that there was way more than one frog out there. That was my last application. I never forgot it.”

That small amphibian set Bragg on the path toward organic agriculture.

Planting the Seeds

Bragg’s entire life has been entwined with Idaho agriculture. He grew up northeast of Jerome, Idaho, a region in south-central Idaho often referred to as the Magic Valley.

His great-grandfather moved from Michigan to Idaho in 1905 and first homesteaded north of Sun Valley, Idaho, before moving to what was then Lincoln County around 1910. The area became Jerome County in 1919.

“I’m proud to say that I grew up in Jerome, Idaho, on a country farm,” Bragg says.

Growing up, Bragg learned the intricacies of farming from his father, Clyde (Bud) Bragg, who was named Jerome County Farm Family of the Year in 1998.

“He grew 30 types of beans for seed,” Bragg says of his father. “He grew peas for seed. He grew corn for seed. He

grew wheat for seed. He loved growing potatoes. His uncles had a packing shed, way back when. He taught me a sevenyear rotation on potatoes.”

Bragg and his wife, Sandy, started their own farm, Sage Basin, in 1995 and managed the family farm until 2000. He also has worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development, Potandon Produce, SunRain Potato Varieties and Meijer N.A.

Potato Proponents

He and Sandy are two of the biggest proponents for the potato you’ll find.

Together, they have started two consulting companies, Everything Potatoes (EP) and Superfood Consulting. Sandy is the president and Jeff is the vice-president of EP, and Jeff is the president of Superfood Consulting.

Together, they want to change the direction and emphasis that U.S.

Kevin Smyer (left), Cindy Jo Edwards (center) and Jordon Edwards separate debris from potatoes during the harvest on the Edwards farm.

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Potato Country

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A horse-powered cart passes Jeff Bragg’s Morris Mini parked next to a potato field in Wilder, Idaho.

agriculture has taken and refocus on sustainability. They envision EP as a bridge company to help accomplish that goal. According to Bragg, EP is the research and development arm of their vision, and Superfood Consulting is the agency that will implement their vision.

“Everything Potatoes is a platform for Sandy and me to help others,” he explains. “Get into farming, teach them methods, and we’ve got methods that we’re teaching people on how to grow a complete system organically, and I intend to take it globally because people need help both in taking care of their soils and also in taking care of their people.”

Jeff Bragg checks the development and sets of Chieftain seed potatoes in a field in Wilder, Idaho.

The Mission

He’s on a personal mission to restore farming to its roots, back to a time when farms were smaller and rural communities were built around family farms. He doesn’t like the direction that farming has taken with the centralized consolidation of farms and the slow disintegration of long-standing rural towns.

“When I graduated from high school, nearly all my classmates were from farm families. The small farms are out,” he says. “We were pioneers back in the day. Now it is corporate farming, and deception to consumers is the rule of the day. Let’s make agriculture big again by being small and taking care of Mother Earth.”

PotatoCountry.com

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On a Mission With Superfood Consulting, Bragg wants to highlight and promote the potato’s nutritional positives to consumers.

“I want to tell the world that potatoes are probably the number one superfood in the world,” he says with unbridled enthusiasm in his voice. “The thing that’s different about potatoes, though, is that nobody really understands them.”

Bragg advocates having nutrition labels on the different potato varieties. At the Potato Association of America annual meeting in 2015, he gave a presentation on the importance of informing consumers of the nutritional differences found in many potato varieties.

“I’m going back to my roots with all this diversity of crops, and I want to help people have more organics,” Bragg shares. “I want to help people feed the world with good stuff, in a nutshell.

Shawn Silva helps fill bins with Purple Reign potatoes from a harvester.

Jeff Bragg checks the pulp temperature of a Lady Amarilla during harvest of the Edwards farm in Jerome County, Idaho.

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Potato Country

July / August 2020

Nourish the world. We want to nourish the world, and potatoes being the only crop you can survive on, we want to start with potatoes. But we’re also working with other cropping rotations.”

Action Plan

Last year, Bragg traveled around Idaho and Arizona consulting with potato farmers while growing organic seed in fields across Idaho. He had a total of 43 acres spread across four fields in Canyon County, Idaho; 22 acres in Jerome, Idaho; another 15 acres in Donnelly, Idaho; along with 15 acres in Elfrida, Arizona.

This year, he’s been to the Imperial Valley of southern California harvesting mini-tubers in a greenhouse, part of his organic seed production, and preparing to plant there and in Idaho and Arizona.

He is continuing his consulting, traveling to Wisconsin’s Central Sands to work with a potato grower there. He’s continuing to produce seed potatoes, but he’s also producing for the fresh market.

“We’re moving to more of a fresh production model,” he says of his plans for the coming year. “We’re not only growing seed potatoes, but we’re also forming an organization to take fresh organics into the marketplace. We’re looking to grow growers using organic seed and organic methods in other states – wherever we can be close to the market.”

Bragg is on a mission, sort of like the Lone Ranger from radio and television; he’s trying to return Idaho agriculture “to those thrilling days of yesteryear.”

NOVA-Crate-Ads-Sectagon-v4.pdf

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Pictured from left are Jose Sandoval holding his daughter Ida, Sarah Sandoval, Sandy Bragg holding her granddaughter Lucille, and Jeff Bragg.

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Many growers are reporting BIG & BOUNTIFUL yields after maximizing effectiveness of the proven soil fumigants Sectagon®-42 and Sectagon®-K54.

Three factors are driving their success: • Proper soil tilth • Optimal soil moisture well before application • Precision placement of the product Consider these factors to increase your return on investment for early season suppression of weeds, diseases and nematodes.

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PotatoCountry.com

9

Road to a

Million Pounds

Photos courtesy Washington State Potato Commission

T

o make the best of a bad situation, the Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) set out on the “Road to a Million Pounds.� Reaching the destination in early June, the WSPC donated 1 million pounds of surplus spuds after COVID-19 restrictions took a toll on the industry.

According to the WSPC, 90 percent of the potatoes grown in Washington are sold to restaurants and other foodservice establishments. With so many restaurants closed due to COVID19 restrictions, growers were left with storages full of potatoes no longer needed for processing.

However, growers recognized that they were not the only ones suffering financially and the potatoes in their storage sheds could help feed those in need. Knowing that many people had lost their jobs and were struggling to make ends meet, the growers set a goal to donate 1 million of the nearly 1 billion pounds of excess processing potatoes to people in need.

Together with volunteers and partners in various communities, the WSPC gave away bag after bag of potatoes across the state.

Starting in Ritzville at the end of April, the WSPC handed out

WSPC commissioners Grant Morris and Roger Hawley grab bags of potatoes to give away in Auburn, Wash.

WSPC commissioners Roger Hawley and Ellie Charvet help out at a distribution event in Tacoma, Wash., at which 200,000 pounds of potatoes were donated.

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spuds from Spokane to Sedro Woolley, making stops in Moses Lake, Auburn, Kennewick, Wenatchee, Tacoma, Burlington and Renton, and ending in Olympia the first week of June.

Altogether, 1 million pounds of potatoes were donated throughout Washington.

It cost about 7 cents per pound to wash, bag and transport the potatoes. The WSPC set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of the giveaways.

WSPC commissioner Jordan Reed and his son Owen Reed volunteer at a potato giveaway event in Auburn, Wash.

WSPC commissioner Marvin Wollman and Owen Reed, son of commissioner Jordan Reed, load potatoes into a car at one of several potato distribution events held throughout the state.

PotatoCountry.com

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Selecting Soil Amendments, Nematicides to Best Prevent Potato Early Dying Complex

By Emilie Cole, Luisa Parrado and Marisol Quintanilla, Michigan State University

I

n potatoes, the presence of the root lesion nematode along with the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae can be detrimental, resulting in potato early dying complex (PED). In fact, serious pressure from these pests can result in yield losses of up to 50 percent.

For most growers, combating PED requires fumigation or broad-spectrum biocides such as Telone or Vydate.

While effective, these products can be not only damaging to soil health but also expensive to apply, which is why

researchers in the applied nematology lab at Michigan State University are exploring sustainable alternative control tactics.

In 2018 and 2019, Marisol Quintanilla and her team tested manures, composts and nematicides for their ability to control potato early dying complex. Efficacy was measured by monitoring root lesion nematode and V. dahliae populations throughout the season as well as evaluating yield.

Plants in this field are impacted by potato early dying complex.

Composts, Manures

In 2018, the addition of poultry manure at a rate of 1.25 tons per acre not only decreased nematode pressure but also significantly increased marketable yield compared to the untreated control and Michigan’s grower standard, Vydate.

Adding poultry manure also improved many soil health characteristics including respiration and soil aggregate stability, implying an increase in soil biological activity.

In 2019, studies were conducted at two field locations in southern and central Michigan. At both locations, the addition of a custom compost blend, Layer Ash Blend and poultry manure at the same rate of 1.25 tons per acre increased potato yield. As for the effect on nematodes, samples are still being processed, which will tell the state of root lesion nematode density across the potato season.

Therefore, soon the Quintanilla lab will be able to correlate yield and nematode density and also compare 2019 and 2018 nematode density results in order to give a final conclusion.

R ITE T RACE Advanced Track & Trace System

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Recently, a new molecule, fluazaindolizine, was found to be effective in controlling plant parasitic nematodes and was tested in the field by the Quintanilla lab for further efficacy trials.

This product will soon be commercialized as a new sulfonamide nematicide, Salibro, available through Corteva Agriscience.

In the 2018 trial, Salibro significantly reduced root lesion nematode presence within collected potato roots. Significant reductions in root lesion nematode populations were also found in plots treated with Velum Prime (fluopyram).

For 2019, the nematicide trial at the southern Michigan location did not result in significant changes in nematode populations between any of the LD treatments; however, the greatest yields resulted from plots treated with Salibro plus an application of Vydate (oxamyl) and Vydate alone. Based on these results, the best-performing nematicides were Salibro, Velum Prime and Vydate, which should be considered when formulating a plan to prevent and control root lesion nematodes.

In both years, significant changes in V. dahliae incidence was not observed; therefore, utilizing a fungicide such as Elatus from Syngenta alongside the best-performing manures or nematicide products may prove most beneficial for PED control. Overall, opting for nonfumigant products to control PED could result in improved yields, increased returns and, if using manures, improved soil health.

Taking our results into account, although we found that Vydate (grower standard) produces great yields, composts fr o m

to TRUCK

to DETAILED MAPS

to STORAGE

519-669-4698•greentronics.com PotatoCountry.com 13

Early Dying Complex and manures are not far behind. This means that there is a greener alternative that not only improves potato yield but also enhances soil and plant health by promoting nutrient availability and beneficial communities. The implementation of this alternative is less toxic, which may lead to a boost in potato quality and applicator safety. It is also important to mention that by integrating these sustainable amendments, benefits will increase and be observed over time.

Future Work

The next step for potato early dying complex control is to determine the key factors that are influencing the incidence of PED in potato fields treated with composts and manures. Based on previous studies, we hypothesize that the addition of such soil amendments increases nutrient availability as well as beneficial microbial communities. This altogether will increase plant health and, therefore, yield.

Michigan State University researchers plant potatoes in southern Michigan.

Team members from the Quintanilla Lab at Michigan State University prepare to apply composts and manures.

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Root lesion nematodes, microscopic worm-like animals, extract nutrients from plants, causing yield loss.

Know Your Potato Diseases

Disease Identification Quiz Dr. Jeff Miller Dr. Jeff Miller, a plant pathologist, is the president and CEO of Miller Research, Rupert, Idaho.

He can be contacted by phone: (208) 531-5124; cell: (208) 431-4420; jeff@millerresearch.com

A

A potato grower saw some dead plants on one end of the field (Photo A).

Another spot was present about 40 feet into the field (Photo B). Closer examination of the plants showed the veins in the leaves to be yellow (Photo C), a condition called chlorosis. On the underside of the leaves, the veins appeared brown (Photo D), a condition called necrosis.

Is a disease attacking these plants?

What can be done to fix this?

B

C

Answers Page 20

D PotatoCountry.com

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transportation & PA Chinook Equipment, Inc. www.chinookequipment.com

edp Electro-bagger

The new Electro-bagger from edp Australia, model EB-2218-DF, is currently available in stock. The machine has new control features on the touchscreen such as bag counters for each of the two preset programs. Users can adjust machine and belt speeds as well as monitor weight averages. The new model also has pneumatic bag clamps and the ability to do bags or cartons with optional carton holders. A photo eye also can be used when bagging to ensure the belts won’t run without a bag in place.

Kerian Machines www.kerian.com

Speed Sizer

The Kerian Speed Sizer will gently and accurately sort potatoes by size.

It is affordable and proven in use for both long (russet) potatoes and round potatoes including reds and whites. With 13 standard models, the Kerian Speed Sizer can fit users’ applications from small packing lines to large processing plants. The constantly rotating rollers provide consistent and precise sizing that is fast, gentle, accurate and easily adjustable.

All stainless steel models and stainless steel contact points are also available. The Kerian Speed Sizer offers growers maximum value and machines perfectly suited to their capacity and number of sizes.

Lockwood Manufacturing www.lockwoodmfg.com

GD-7 Sizer

Lockwood’s GD-7 Sizer allows growers to control the size up to three ranges at a time with near 100 percent accuracy. The VFD controls the speed and production flow needed. The unit includes fingertip controls for ease of operation with minimal greasing points and moving parts for less maintenance. Adjustable legs allow equipment to be stable on uneven ground. The GD-7 includes an 84-inch-wide sizing table, and varieties are sized by diameter, not length. It is easily adjustable. The moving roller design reduces bruising and skimming to help provide the best product possible.

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Potato Country

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ACKiNG Essentials Milestone

www.milestone-equipment.com Inline Sizer, AccuSizer

Milestone’s inline sizers and AccuSizers offer gentle and accurate sizing in a compact package. Standard inline sizers are available in numerous configurations and can incorporate the company’s proprietary quick adjust and sizing star for increased sizing accuracy.

The AccuSizer has been many growers’ go-to for washed or peeled potatoes for over 30 years. The tried-and-true design, along with robust construction, has earned the AccuSizer a reputation of precise and lowmaintenance operation.

Rietveld Equipment

www.rietveldequipment.com PIM Weighing and Bagging Machines

Rietveld Equipment is marketing, selling, installing and servicing PIM weighing and bagging machines. PIM is offering applications for cartonfilling and bagging in a range from one-half pound through 50 pounds.

PIM utilizes a belt feeding system, intelligent software, self-learning control system and superior sensor technology, which results in more accurate weighing and speeds up to 18 50-pound discharges per minute with a 10-scale machine.

In addition to weighing and bagging machines from PIM, Rietveld Equipment offers full potato washing/grading lines from Allround, dust extraction systems from Meconaf, optical sorters from Protec and packaging machines from Tosca.

Spudnik Equipment www.spudnik.com

STC Trailers

Spudnik Equipment STC Trailers are built to last with their “Diamond Class” design. The unique bridging structure, containing a diamond shape, provides extra strength in the center of the trailer for additional support in the center of the top rails. The high quality trailers have been designed to withstand all conditions and situations the agriculture industry has to offer.

Bring old, wrecked commodity trailers back to life with Spudnik’s re-bin program.

PotatoCountry.com

17

transportation & PACKiNG Essentials Symach

www.symach.nl/en/applications/4/potatoes Symach Rotax Palletizing Head

Symach introduces the Rotax, a new palletizing gripper head design to supplement the company’s existing lineup of machine features. This patent-pending design brings much faster palletizing speeds, enabling additional fillers to be linked to one palletizer, maximizing configuration and flexibility of floor space.

The Rotax palletizing head features a four-way design, allowing bags to be fed in no matter the existing head position, meaning the palletizing bucket doesn’t have to return to the home position to receive the next bag.

Current Symach bag palletizing machines can stack up to 36 bags per minute (bpm); the Rotax head increases that rate to 46 bpm, a 25 percent gain.

Symach designs and builds bag palletizing solutions to suit customers’ needs. The company manufactures everything from pallet dispensers to high-speed wrapping systems, all custom designed to customer requirements.

Trinity Trailer Mfg., Inc.

www.trinitytrailer.com/spuds Ultra Spud Tail Fin

Unloading spuds can be an ordeal – both for the potatoes and the drivers hauling them. During unloading, potatoes can take a hard fall to the piler or conveyer belt, bruising the product. Or potatoes can bounce off the conveyor belt, smashing onto the ground and spoiling the spud.

Trinity Trailer Mfg, Inc., an Idaho-based belt trailer manufacturing company, engineered a simple solution for its trailers: the Ultra Spud Tail Fin. This unique feature is simplifying life for haulers of potatoes and other agricultural commodities.

The 24-inch shaft mount tail fin extension and its tapered edges gently funnel the cascading potatoes – or beets, onions and other commodities – onto the piler or conveyer belt. The cleaner unload produces less waste, meaning less time clearing spoiled spuds from the receiving area and more time back on the road.

Volm Companies, Inc. www.volmcompanies.com

Volmstack Robotic Palletizing Solution

Volm Companies manufactures end-of-arm solutions for robotic palletizing cells. Most recently, the company created a patentpending custom solution for placing bags into corrugated and wood bins.

Whatever the application, Volm has the right palletizing solution.

With Volm’s fully automated bin filling palletizing solution, users can expect cost savings, improved quality and decreased turnover.

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Potato Country

July / August 2020

Insect Biology Quiz

This material is provided courtesy of Andy Jensen, Ph.D., Manager of the Northwest Potato Research Consortium. For more information, visit www.nwpotatoresearch.com.

Dr. Andy Jensen

Many people have heard me say over the years that magnifying glasses or hand lenses are necessary for effective scouting for some of our important pest insects (and mites). Below are photos of tiny insects on leaves. The photos are a little blurry mostly because the insects are so small. Photo A shows one kind of insect, while photos B and C each show two kinds.

What insects are shown in each photo?

Beware! One of these photos is a trick question of sorts.

B

A

C Answers on page 21

For a FREE CertiďŹ cation Directory, email Dr. Nina Zidack at potatocert@montana.edu

Uncompromising Standards, Generation after Generation. We have the seed for you! www.montanaspud.org

PotatoCountry.com 167820MonPot13h.indd 1

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Potatoes USA

Potatoes Continue to Reign as America’s Favorite Vegetable

By Jill Rittenberg, Potatoes USA

T

o understand changes in consumers’ opinions of potatoes, Potatoes USA conducts an annual Consumer Attitudes and Usage (A&U) study. The study tracks U.S. consumers’ mindset toward food and dietary choices, as well as overall attitudes toward potatoes. Results from the 2020 study show consumers love potatoes and are willing to consume more potatoes with the right resources and messaging.

What Drives Food Purchases?

When it comes to what consumers look for in food, they are seeking flavor, freshness, foods that are a good value, foods that are good for them and something everyone enjoys. Not surprisingly, potatoes deliver on many of these attributes, with consumers giving potatoes high marks for being a food that everyone enjoys, being a good value and fresh. Consumers also rank the potato high for being versatile, filling and satisfying.

When cooking at home, 77 percent of Americans say that they tend to use recipes, showing that recipes continue to be an important part of their food inspiration and preparation.

How Do Potatoes Fit in Americans’ Diets?

For the fourth year in a row, potatoes rank as America’s favorite vegetable. Given the choice of the 20 most popular vegetables, potatoes again earned the highest rank among consumers, followed by broccoli, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and corn.

Across the country, 73 percent of consumers report eating potatoes at least once per week, with mashed potatoes being the most popular preparation, followed by baked potatoes and fries.

Consumers describe their cooking styles as basic, traditional and short order, with traditional cooking notably increasing from last year’s responses.

Consumer eating patterns continue to evolve, from the diet guidelines they follow to how they eat throughout the day.

Nearly half of all consumers report following specific dietary guidelines, with carb restrictive, low sugar and low sodium topping the list. And less than 50 percent report eating the traditional three-square meals per day, with or without snacks.

What Will Make Consumers Eat More Potatoes?

The reasons consumers do not eat more potatoes include already eating enough potatoes, belief that potatoes are high in carbohydrates and a preference for other vegetables. However, consumers would be motivated to make more potatoes at home if they had a shorter cooking time, ideas for new ways of cooking them and preparation ideas for healthier nutrition. In addition, communicating nutritional benefits such as “potatoes provide the carbohydrates, potassium and energy needed to perform at your best” would also motivate consumers to eat more potatoes.

There is no question that the environment around us is changing.

People are spending timeitat home, When you put your hard earned money down for a new potato trailer, much why more not put cooking more meals and stocking up on nutrient-dense foods down on one that will work as hard as you? Western deliver averagethis has that they potato feel goodtrailers about eating.

Noton surprisingly, 2000lbs more that the competition. Couple that with highest resale values the and presents resulted in the heightened interest in all thingsin potato an opportunity to further educate and inspire consumers to industry and you can’t go wrong. continue to consume America’s favorite vegetable.

Building the best and making it better…your way!

Learn more at www.westerntrailer.com or call 888.344.2539

For a summary of the research, visit www.potatoesusa.com or contact Jill Rittenberg at jill@potatoesusa.com.

Building the best and making it better…your way!

When you put your hard earned money down for a new potato trailer, why not put it down on one that will work as hard as you? Western potato trailers deliver on average 2000lbs more that the competition. Couple that with the highest resale values in the When hard earned money down for a new potato industry andyou youput can’tyour go wrong.

Building the best and making it better…your way!

trailer, it down on one that will work hard as you?

Learn why morenot at put www.westerntrailer.com or callas888.344.2539 Western potato trailers deliver on average 2000lbs more that the competition. Couple that with the highest resale values in the industry and you can’t go wrong.

Learn more at www.westerntrailer.com or call 888.344.2539 20

Potato Country

July / August 2020

Know Your Disease Answers (from page 15)

Further investigation revealed that the plants in these areas had been exposed to a high rate (above label) of metribuzin, one of the herbicides commonly used to control weeds. In this case, a mistake was made in the herbicide application.

To answer the question, it is not a disease attacking these plants. Also, nothing can be done at this point in time. This can be avoided next time by the applicator taking greater care during the herbicide application.

National Potato Council

During COVID-19, Sustainability Takes Center Stage

By Mike Wenkel, Chief Operating Officer, National Potato Council

T

wo decades ago, the term “sustainability” may have seemed foreign to most growers, but the practices that fell under the definition were commonplace.

Safe pesticide applications, conserving resources, efficient water usage, food handling practices, reducing food waste and other sustainable efforts have all been at the heart of the potato industry’s commitment to safely and responsibly feed the nation.

As consumer demand grows for production practices that align with customer and market expectations, the potato industry has gotten better about telling our sustainability story. In early 2020, the potato industry came together to launch the Potato Sustainability Alliance (PSA) to support the efforts of growers to adopt sustainable practices and communicate those efforts with consumers. The alliance now provides a platform for farmers, supply chain partners, industry organizations, nongovernmental organizations, universities and advisors to work together to define, measure and advance potato sustainability in the United States and Canada.

During Potato Expo 2020 in January, the Eye On Potatoes podcast brought together some of the industry’s leaders for a discussion on the cooperative work to support, advance and communicate potato sustainability across the supply chain. Guests included Tommy Jackson, sustainable solutions account manager at Syngenta USA; Tammy McElroy, senior director sustainability at Sysco; Jolyn Rasmussen, raw product development and sustainability at J.R. Simplot; Laura Scandurra, executive director of the Potato Sustainability Alliance; and Ed Schneider, partner at Schneider Farms in Washington state, in addition to our host Lane Nordlund.

I was pleased to join that discussion where we talked about the Potato Sustainability Alliance’s role in advancing sustainability and enhancing engagement and collaboration across the value chain.

However, we all know that the world in which we lived in January is not the same one we live in today. Today, the potato supply and value chain look much different. And as I write this in late May 2020, the world in which you read this may look more different still. And yet, the potato industry’s commitment to sustainability – and in telling our sustainability success story – could never be more important.

Not only does the sustainability conversation still hold true, it is being played out in the media for all the world to see. During the early days of the government-mandated shutdown, images of piles of dumped potatoes went viral on social media. And stories about losing 1 billion to 2 billion pounds of potatoes without homes caused some to question the potato industry’s commitment to responsibly feeding the nation.

With food bank lines around the country stretching miles in length, potato farmers, state potato organizations and industry partners stepped up to the plate. Not only have they helped donate millions of pounds of potatoes and potato products to food-insecure Americans, they have proven to the world that they are committed to ensuring the fruits of their labor isn’t going to waste when so many are in need.

Today, not only are the National Potato Council and the state organizations working with our industry and governmental partners to direct potatoes to consumers, food banks and government supported feeding programs, we are doing all we can to ensure that our family farmers stay in business when the traditional supply chains dry up.

In early May, the potato industry welcomed USDA’s announcement of a $50 million surplus potato purchase

to support the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the single largest potato purchase in USDA’s history and the largest of all the specialty crop purchases under the latest round of Section 32 food purchases. It also came on the heels of previous food purchases and the launch of USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program, including $461 million directed for fresh fruits and vegetables, which we hope will free up some additional room in the potato supply chain.

Given the size of the crisis and the continued massive oversupply of potatoes, these purchases are only a partial down payment on the industry’s overall relief needs. More will be needed, and soon. But in the short term, USDA’s food purchase should provide a shot in the arm to struggling operations, give family farms the hope that more relief is on the way and allow the industry to continue to feed the world even in the most challenging times.

To listen to the podcast episode “Telling the Potato Sustainability Success Story,” search for “Eye On Potatoes” wherever you listen to podcasts.

Know Your Insects Answers (from page 19)

Photo A shows an immature thrips inside a tiny crater it created as it fed on the potato leaf.

Photo B shows a very young immature potato psyllid on the right. On the left is your trick question; this insect is an immature scale insect. Scales do not attack potato, but are a common sight on bittersweet nightshade, a key non-crop host plant for potato psyllid.

Photo C shows a newborn aphid near the bottom and a newborn whitefly near the top, immediately below the junction of the leaf veins.

PotatoCountry.com

21

In the News

Ag World Founder Passes Away

Warren A. Henninger, 74, of Moses Lake, Washington, passed away May 23 after having an accident while working in his yard.

Henninger founded Ag World Support Systems and the Ag World Golf Classic.

Born and raised on a potato farm in Pennsylvania, Henninger earned a degree in agronomy from Penn State University and did his graduate studies in crop science at Oregon State University. He worked as a Malheur County potato and onion extension agent, a researcher and field manager at Simplot and a division field manager for Carnation. In 1997, he founded Ag World Support Systems, an independent potato inspection company.

In 2014, Henninger started the Ag World Golf Classic, an annual golf event that has raised over $425,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Spokane. This year’s tournaments are scheduled for Aug. 11 at Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick, Washington, and Aug. 13 at The Links at Moses Pointe in Moses Lake, Washington.

Henninger was married to his wife, Judy, for 49 years. They were blessed with three children, their spouses and nine grandchildren.

Joseph Pavek Remembered for Industry Contributions

Dr. Joseph Pavek, a longtime researcher and potato breeder, passed away on May 24 at the age of 92.

Pavek was a potato breeder for the USDA at the University of Idaho Research and Extension Center from 1965 until 1999. During his career, he developed new potato varieties with colleagues. Five of the top 10 U.S. potato varieties were created

by Pavek: Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, Alturas, Bannock Russet and Clearwater Russet.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education and a master’s degree in plant genetics at the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in plant genetics at the University of Wisconsin.

Pavek was named Researcher of the Year by the National Potato Council in 1989 and Honorary Life Member of Potato Association of America (PAA) in 1991. He served as president of the PAA in 1987-88 and was inducted into the Idaho Potato Hall of Fame in 2000.

Pavek is survived by seven children including Mark Pavek, a potato specialist at Washington State University, as well as seven grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

22

Potato Country

July / August 2020

World Potato Congress Announces New Directors The Idaho potato industry has new representation on the World Potato Congress (WPC) board with Bret Nedrow appointed as one of three new directors.

Nedrow has worked for the J.R. Simplot Company for 20 years. As the company’s director of raw procurement, he oversees North America potato operations, raw development and sustainability.

Nedrow started his career in potatoes on a seed potato farm in Ashton, Idaho.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness management and a master’s degree in agricultural economics at the University of Idaho.

The other new WPC directors are from Australia and China.

Politics of Potato Book Sells on Amazon

A new book titled “Feeding the People: The Politics of the Potato” made its debut on Amazon as an e-book and in print in late June.

In the 308-page book, author Rebecca Earle explores the history of the potato, illustrating how potatoes played an important part in wars and the ways in which yesterday’s peasant agriculture has contributed to the food security of today. The book traces the potato from obscurity to ranking as one of consumers’ favorite vegetables.

Unusual potato-centric recipes are also included in the book.

World Potato Congress Set for 2021

The World Potato Congress is inviting the industry to save the date for the 11th World Potato Congress to take place in Dublin, Ireland, May 31 - June 3, 2021.

The event brings together industry leaders, researchers and producers. With the theme The Changing World of the Potato, organizers are planning a program that will cover international trade, sustainability, consumer trends, smart farming, health and nutrition and innovation.

Attendees can register at www.wpc2021.com.

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EVAN: (208)757-8481 | EVANN@TRISTEELMFG.COM PotatoCountry.com

23

Market Report

Potato Market Uncertainties

T

hough the world is emerging from COVID-19 lockdowns, the recovery path is far from certain both for the general economy and for the various potato industry sectors. Numerous questions highlight the challenges facing the industry. Will “social distancing” become the new way of life? If infection rates spike as restrictions are eased, will governments re-impose limits on economic activity? Will there be a second wave of infections later this year? How soon (if ever) will conventions, sporting events, concerts and amusement parks be allowed to run at capacity? How long will economic recovery take? What impact will the response to COVID-19 have on long-term demand for potatoes and potato products? Because nobody has clear answers to these questions, the outlook for potato markets for the remainder of 2020 and beyond is more uncertain than ever.

Historically, demand for potatoes has changed at a stable rate over time. That has allowed growers to match planned production with expected usage, with the major driving force for year-to-year price changes being the deviation of yields relative to trend. COVID-19 has upended that model. Demand for potatoes and potato products has shifted dramatically, due to restrictions on business activity, travel and public gatherings.

Though governments are easing those restrictions, most have not mapped out a path to pre-COVID normality. Even

24

Potato Country

July / August 2020

if or when that happens, it could be a long time before consumers regain the confidence necessary for a complete recovery. The impact on potato markets varies by industry sector. People still need to eat. They will continue to eat potatoes, but the products they consume will vary depending on where they eat and the economic and cultural situation they face.

Table Potato Market

The russet table potato market is a prime example of the dynamics the industry is facing. As lockdowns got underway, consumers could no longer eat out. They stripped grocery store shelves of everything as they prepared to hunker down at home. In the early days, grocers purchased anything resembling a potato to restock shelves. Once the initial shock subsided, and emphasis turned to protecting customer health, primary interest focused on 5-pound and 10-pound bags of potatoes. With foodservice operations mostly shut down, the market for russet count cartons collapsed.

Packers were forced to package as many large potatoes as possible in consumer bags. Then, as restrictions on restaurant operations eased, distributors needed to rebuild pipeline supplies, which had emptied during the shutdown. Carton prices stabilized. At the same time, formal and informal give-away programs reduced demand for retail product, at least temporarily. The result has been a roller coaster market for russet table potatoes.

Though restaurants have started to reopen, most localities expect to limit operations to 50 percent of capacity, or less, for the foreseeable future. Buffets (including potato bars) remain closed.

Travel and convention business will be slow to recover. The net result is likely to be a continuing imbalance between demand for consumer packs and count cartons. In addition, we suspect that waste consumes a larger portion of the potatoes served in away-from-home settings than it does for in-home consumption.

While red and yellow potato consumption always has been more

concentrated in the at-home environment, we have picked up reports that the pandemic shutdown has made it difficult for packers to move creamers and size-B potatoes, as well as specialty potato varieties. Those who have established a strong retail presence are doing much better moving those potatoes than sellers who have depended on the foodservice industry to purchase product in 50-pound cartons.

French Fry Industry

The French fry industry quickly took steps to mitigate the impact of the shutdown. By the end of March, fryers were reporting that freezers were clogged with finished product. They told Columbia Basin growers to stop planting potatoes, with about 80 percent of the Basin’s crop already planted. Initial contract volume reductions for the 2020 crop ranged between 20 percent and 25 percent, though some of that volume was later restored. Growers with contract potatoes from the 2019 crop still in storage were encouraged to move those potatoes through other channels. Fryers made plans to continue using old-crop potatoes through September and possibly into October to clean up what they could of the 2019 crop.

April marked the bottom of demand for French fries. At presstime, we still did not have definitive information on the extent of the usage slowdown. What we do know is that despite a 30 percent drop in April frozen product exports and a substantial decline in domestic sales, fryers managed to reduce their finished product inventory by 113 million pounds.

That is the industry’s largest April stocks drawdown since 1993. It trimmed the industry’s holdings by 1.2 percent, relative to the previous year’s stocks.

The drawdown may have been necessary to make room for product made from early potatoes, which must be processed when harvested during July and August However, we suspect that demand did not drop off as much as processors had anticipated.

Continue

By Bruce Huffaker, Publisher North American Potato Market News

Restaurant Sales

Evidence suggests that quick-service restaurant (QSR) sales began to rebound during the last half of April and that the recovery has continued since that time.

That sector represented 65 percent of preCOVID sales. Most of its business always has been either drive-thru or take-out, which puts it in a much better situation than other segments of the foodservice industry. Over the next year, we doubt that QSR sales will be down more than 5 percent. The sector may actually see some growth, as consumers shift more of their food budget to take-home options.

Recovery is likely to be much slower for other foodservice operations. While many restaurants have added take-out options during the pandemic, it is not a natural fit. Where restaurants have been allowed to reopen dining rooms, most jurisdictions have limited that option to 25 percent or 50 percent of the operation’s capacity, with no clear indication of if or when those restrictions could be eliminated. This category accounted for about 20 percent of the industry’s pre-COVID business. Fry sales to the sector could fall 30 percent to 50 percent, or more, short of yearearlier levels through the entire 2020-21 marketing year.

HUFFAKER'S HIGHLIGHTS • COVID-19 will create turmoil in potato markets throughout the 2020-21 growing season.

• Overall potato supplies are unlikely to be balanced with usage requirements.

• Usage requirements will depend on how fast the economy – particularly the foodservice industry – recovers, which is extremely uncertain.

• If QSR sales start to grow relative to the previous year, processors may have to purchase open market potatoes.

• Table potato supplies should be plentiful during the coming year

• Should processors need to push potatoes from the 2020 crop onto the fresh market, that would exacerbate the supply situation.

Editor’s note: To contact Mr. Huffaker, or to subscribe to North American Potato Market News (published 48 times per year), write or call: 2690 N. Rough Stone Way, Meridian, ID 83646; (208) 525-8397; or e-mail napmn@napmn.com.

The demand outlook for both fresh and frozen potato products is extremely unstable. Even if restrictions continue to be lifted, consumers may be reluctant to resume old practices. That could crimp demand. Fry contract volume reductions may be sufficient to balance raw product supplies with demand. If QSR sales exceed year-earlier volume, fryers may need to buy some potatoes on the open market, to cover needs until the 2021 harvest gets underway. On the other hand, we are not sure that table potato growers have made sufficient adjustments to account for the downturn in demand for fresh potatoes. The market for open potatoes from the 2020 crop could be extremely volatile as the demand outlook fluctuates.

PotatoCountry.com

25

Potato Growers of Washington

From Frightening Despair to Cautious Optimism

By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington

I

n my last column, I wrote about the major body blow growers were experiencing as their 2020 potato contract volume was greatly reduced just as they were getting well into their planting season. This was, of course, a result of the COVID-19 shutdown of many of our normal outlets for frozen potato products. The outlets that remained open were limited to drive-thru, take-out or home delivery to meet social distancing requirements in each area.

After a few weeks, the shock of the contract reductions began to wear off and growers started to implement plans to make the best of the situation and try to remain profitable with the reduced efficiencies of size. Then the next punch to the gut came with the turning away of nearly 200,000 tons of 2019 storage crop potatoes in the Columbia Basin. Fortunately, growers were allowed to keep the advance payments they received for those potatoes so the loss was 50 percent or less, but still millions of dollars in losses to the potato growing community.

As stay-at-home orders began to be lifted and some areas were able to open more outlets for our products, even on a reduced seating capacity, a surge in movement of frozen potato

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Potato Country

July / August 2020

products occurred as the supply chain refilled to supply the addition of dine-in options to the restaurant industry. This has created a sense that things are returning to normal and that processors may have overreacted and reduced their contract volume too much. While I am told I am one of the most optimistic people in the world and a huge supporter of the potato industry, I am not one who is ready to embrace the concept that we are quickly returning to normal.

I am assuming that we will not have a second wave of the coronavirus this year, which if it were to happen, would be far more devastating to the potato industry than the first wave. Even without that second wave, this pandemic has changed the way people will go about their everyday lives for years. For one, they will be far less likely to gather in large crowds. Whether that is at a sporting event, a concert or even a crowded restaurant or bar on a Saturday night, it will result in fewer opportunities for fry sales in those venues. More people have relearned the art of cooking at home and realized the money that can be saved from not eating out as much. This, too, will lessen the foot traffic to many restaurants.

While restaurant traffic will be down for a while, I still believe that over time, we will see a resurgence of meals prepared away from home and an increased demand for frozen potato products. But it will take time and it will look different than it did before COVID-19.

One thing that the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders confirmed was that French fries are kings of drive-thru purchases. While overall restaurant sales were down during the stay-at-home order, the volume of fries was not down by nearly as much at each outlet open for drive-thru, and some even showed an increase in volume sales during this time. I see no reason for this not to continue as we progress to the “new normal.”

I do see a continuation in the surge in take-out and home delivery sales of meals prepared away from home. This is why we as an industry need to focus our attention on ways to capture more of these sales. Multiple potato processing companies are focusing major resources on improving the quality, texture and taste of frozen potato products and their packaging to better suit this type of sale. That focus needs to continue.

So while I believe that the frozen potato industry is on its way to recovery, I believe we need to have cautious optimism going forward, as the recovery will be slower than many expect because of the continued limited restaurant seating in many areas, restrictions on events, reduced travel by many and the overall economy. The losses that growers are experiencing this year also will need to be regained before we can again expand our segment of the potato industry.

The future looks good, but not as great as it did at the beginning of the year when we were all wondering where we would find enough potatoes to meet the ever increasing demand. Be sure to keep the big picture in focus so that we do not get overly excited or pessimistic as we tread through this unforgettable year.

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