Potato harvest has begun across most of Idaho, and some growers are making last-minute preparations to fields and equipment. Potato diggers are out in full force in the fields for this year’s potato harvest.
Bryan Searle, owner of Double S Farms in Shelley, Idaho, is holding back and removing the vines from his field first, but he is hopeful for a high yield
“The potato crop looks good quality,” says Searle. “We’ve had a good weather year, so we think we'll have a good potato crop.”
The weather has been a concern throughout the summer months with dry conditions and waves of heat, but Searle says they had just enough water and the temperature was right around where it needed to be through much of the summer.
“[Potatoes] like warm days and cooler nights, and we’ve seen a lot of that,” says Searle.
Idaho growers are saying that with no heat spikes this summer over 100 degrees, the fields in eastern Idaho will yield great-looking potatoes that are very marketable.
“This type of potato is the money potato,” says Searle, showing off a freshly dug russet. “This is what will return the most money.”
Last year heat spikes throughout the season caused crops to be misshapen, which decreased the marketability of Idaho’s famous potatoes.
“Last year our quality wasn’t as good,” says Searle. “The customers on the other end like a nice-looking potato, so I look forward to the crop that’s here.”
Source: KPVI News