Merger gives Farm Fresh Direct claim to being largest grower-owned fresh potato shipper in nation

An Aug. 12 merger between Colorado-based Farm Fresh Direct LLC and two out-of-state potato shippers has FFD laying claim to being the largest grower-owned fresh potato shipper in the United States.

According to Dave Yeager, vice president of business development for FFD, the merger of R.D. Offutt Co.’s O’Neill, NE, and Winnemucca, NV, potato operations with Farm Fresh Direct brought about a new national sales and marketing company, Farm Fresh Direct of America.

“This is a great opportunity for two companies to combine their expertise,” said Mr. Yeager. “RDO brings a wealth of farming experience, and that, coupled with FFD’s sales and marketing, makes for a perfect fit.”

R.D. Offutt Co. currently farms over 190,000 acres in the United States, of which 60,000 are potatoes, making it the single-largest potato grower in the country. Other operations include a 26,000-acre dairy in Oregon and a recent 7,000-acre farming venture in Russia.

Farm Fresh Direct is the largest fresh potato shipper in Colorado and operates six packing operations in the state, two of which recently completed major upgrades and renovation in time for the 2011 season.

The Monte Vista-headquartered FFD is also one of the larger organic russet and fingerling growers in the United States.