Bill Brewer, executive director of the Oregon Potato Commission, said that potato growers are looking for a return to normal production in 2007. "So far, we're happy with the quality,"Mr. Brewer told The Produce News. "Potato growers are pretty happy with their crops at this time."
Mr. Brewer said that acreage planted to potatoes increased by 4 percent in 2007, coming in around 36,500 acres. This compares with 35,000 planted and harvested in 2006. "We're pretty much even with 2005 [in terms of acreage],"he noted.
This season, the number of acres for contract process potatoes has increased, and there are some reductions in acreage for tablestock and seed potatoes. Last year, 26 percent of overall production was for tablestock.
