Keith Esplin, executive director of Potato Growers of Idaho, on this years crop:
“I think as far as the crop, growers are pleased with what they found,” he said. “Yield and quality are better than thought.”
Esplin said growers were expecting a bigger hit on their crop due to the hot summer, but aren’t seeing as much effect as they had feared. Yields will be down from last year, though, and like Hansen, growers in eastern Idaho are seeing fewer No. 1s.
“They’ll have to sort more potatoes out to go to dehy and processing to get the same amount of fresh pack” as in other years and, in particular, last year, he said.
Esplin said he’s heard there’s a lot of variation in No. 1s this year and the size isn’t as big as in recent crops.
In addition, south-central Idaho growers are seeing lower solids.
