Alsum Farms & Produce's Christine Lindner Talks Potato Harvest
FRIESLAND, WI - Fall is when potatoes are the most abundant and at their peak freshness, according to Christine Lindner, National Sales at Alsum Farms & Produce. The company has finished harvest and anticipates having a good supply remaining strong into the winter months. Wisconsin has excellent quality and a full spectrum of varieties and size profiles to offer the potato category. To get a sense of where Alsum stands in all of this kerfuffle, I spoke with Christine about the state of its potatoes.
“Alsum Farms finished our harvest at the end of October,” Christine told me. “We are now pulling potatoes out of storage bins. As the holiday season approaches, we continue to increase the number of russet potato loads washed and packed as Thanksgiving nears to accommodate for the peak of fresh market demand for potatoes.”
Prolonged wet conditions in late September and early October hindered harvest in Wisconsin, which coupled with freezing temperatures in mid-October forced Alsum to leave about 150 of its 2,700 acres of potatoes in the ground. As a result, its potatoes will have a small-to-medium size profile, although the yield is still about the same as years prior.
With the impending fate of the holiday season, growers are feeling the pressure on their promotional volumes. Potato prices are well above last year’s market as the mid-November trend is increasing exponentially. Even so, Alsum is well-positioned for a successful holiday rush.
“Holiday dinners bring families together for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and many retailers build potatoes as a staple of these gatherings. For just pennies per ounce, potatoes offer some of the best nutritional value of any food,” Christine explained. “For the holidays, we are offering a 20-pound Russet baker pack—as families gather around the dinner table as it provides the best value. Additionally, we are promoting ad volume for b-size red and gold potatoes. This size potato can help retailers bring a fresh offering to the category at a great value.”
Retailers, be sure to check out Alsum’s offerings as you assemble your potato displays. For more categorial updates ahead of the year’s busiest season, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
