Potatoes USA

Before determining which delicious potato recipe will be included in this year’s Thanksgiving celebration, we would appreciate a few moments of your time to answer these important questions. Annually, the Potatoes USA Board and staff prioritize the most pressing issues for the potato industry. Your response to this survey will directly shape our focus areas, helping us continue to boost demand and support the industry. That’s why your feedback is so important.??? ? Please take about 10 minutes to complete the survey. Rest assured, your survey response is anonymous, so let your voice be heard. https://lnkd.in/geEuY2cG

Total dollar sales of potatoes July-September 2024 were stable at $4.5 billion while volume increased 5.4% compared to the same period last year. For even more potato retail sales trends, download our latest report: https://lnkd.in/gid2Raqt

While many Americans may think of spuds as a Thanksgiving staple, real potato enthusiasts know you don’t have to wait until November to enjoy your favorite vegetable. This year, the tradition of celebrating the spud in true Halloween fashion continues. From curated boards featuring potatoes —?a savory balance to Halloween candy —?to the classic “trick-or-tater,” the possibilities to surprise and delight with potatoes this Halloween are endless. And since the promotion of potatoes as Halloween’s spookiest vegetable began two years ago, related stories have appeared in over 560 news outlets. Read more about this Monster Mash-Up of Spooky Spud Traditions here: https://lnkd.in/e_cxAXsz

Every Friday, June through October, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the USDA hosts its own Farmer’s Market as an opportunity to more than 30 farmers, ranchers and small food businesses to sell their products directly to those in the community. One of the more popular booths at the Market is VegU—a fruit and vegetable education program that teaches shoppers how to grow, pick, prepare and store different produce items. In honor of September's National Potato Month, those at the Market received a full potato VegU education as potatoes were featured as the Vegetable of the Week! Attendees learned how Potatoes Fuel Performance, received educational handouts, and enjoyed delicious samples of Pesto Potato Salad.

A message from Blair Richardson, CEO of Potatoes USA: https://lnkd.in/gCZWQMgC

In honor of National Farmer’s Day and Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting one of many incredible Hispanic-American potato farmers: Juan Martinez. When Juan was in high school, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do in life, but he knew he liked working with his dad on their farm in Washington State’s Columbia River Basin. “I am who I am because of my roots,” he said. “I come from an immigrant family. My dad migrated here when he was very young. He actually got promoted to be a manager at his job at 17 years old because he could speak both English and Spanish. I remember my dad staying up late, only having one tractor. It was tough. Now he’s up to 1,000 acres, and as the farm grew, I grew.” Juan’s father, Frank Martinez, started Saddle View Farms over 40 years ago. Juan and his wife now own their own farm — JAM Farms — with 120 acres of potatoes. The family grows russet potatoes for fries at a popular global fast food brand. “Us Hispanics, we don’t give up. We do everything to succeed in life, to find that American dream. Once we find it, it’s beautiful, but it’s not easy.” Thank you, Juan, for all that you and your family do to bring America’s favorite vegetable to tables across the country. #NationalFarmersDay #HispanicHeritageMonth

We’re thrilled to announce Izzy Aguiar as our first-ever Speedy Spud! We asked lovers of spuds and running to apply to don a potato costume in a race of their choice to show how potatoes fuel performance. We were overwhelmed by the incredible responses, from the creative to the heartfelt to the truly funny. Izzy stood out for her enthusiasm and humor —?and, of course, her passion for potatoes as a nutrient-dense vegetable. Read more about Izzy here: https://lnkd.in/gCs8BrVN

In celebration of #NationalPotatoMonth, we are featuring some of America's potato farmers! Meet Alison Sklarczyk of Sklarczyk Seed Farm! When Alison earned her animal sciences degree from Michigan State University, she didn’t intend to go into potato farming. “I thought I would work in some capacity with livestock,” she said. “When I met my husband Ben Sklarczyk, I was very clear I wouldn’t work on the family farm. I was too independent. It’s funny how life and the family farm have ways of roping you back in.” Sklarczyk Seed Farm Farm isn’t an ordinary potato farm, however. Its tissue culture lab —?built to grow clean, disease-free seed potatoes in a sterile environment —?was a perfect fit for Alison’s lab experience studying antibiotic resistance in calves. “Instead of growing E. coli and salmonella, I’m growing tissue plants,” Alison said. “I found a lot of connections between my two backgrounds, and it’s a really good fit.” Located on 50,000 square feet of hydroponic greenhouse production space in Johannesburg, Michigan, the farm's tissue culture lab helps fill contract orders from growers seeking specific varieties of clean, disease-free mini tubers. Alison and her team begin growing plantlets in the tissue culture lab before moving them to greenhouses, which use hydroponic systems instead of soil, which can never be completely sterile. “It’s still very weather-dependent because we can’t mimic sunlight perfectly,” she said. “We use grow lights on rainy days, and we use technology to help with efficiency. The lights will auto-dim when the sun comes back out. We can provide heat, fertility and everything the plants need other than sunlight.” To read more about Alison and Sklarczyk Seed Farm please visit: https://lnkd.in/ga-bgSdP

In celebration of #NationalPotatoMonth, we are featuring some of America's potato farmers! Meet Brian Mahany of Mahany Farms! Brian earned an agriculture business degree from Cornell University and runs Mahany Farms in Arkport, New York, with his dad, Gary Mahany and uncles, Bob and Dennis. They grow chipping potatoes and help to develop new chipping potato varieties through Cornell University’s breeding program, which tests different potato varieties’ viability in different regions. In addition to his research and farming work, Brian supports younger farmers trying to establish themselves in the field. “I try to show them that the struggles they run into are solvable,” he said. “I show them things the national industry has done and share research they can use to study different varieties. I try to get a lot of information out there so they’re not struggling and thinking that’s normal. I want them to push a little harder to see the potential in potatoes and see that they can be successful at it.” His wife Emily also lives on the farm and they just welcomed their first baby! Read more about Brian and Mahany Farms here: https://lnkd.in/gPCcyEmU

U.S. Potato Exports Reach Record Value, See Slight Volume Decrease July 2023-June 2024 For the full report, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gWf4wf7w