Tri-State Potato Variety Program Releases Three New Potatoes for 2009
Growing Season
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Idaho, March 10, 2009
 When
potato producers plant their seed this spring, they’ll have three new varieties
to choose from:
- Alpine Russet, a very high-yielding, medium- to late-maturing
processing potato that has a natural dormancy rivaling Russet Burbank.
It can be stored as long as Russet Burbank while producing
lighter-colored fries.
- Classic Russet, an early- to medium-maturing, good-looking and
great-tasting variety that exceeds Russet Burbank in protein content by
32 percent and that can compete with Russet Norkotah for early harvest
yields. It can be sold into freshpack markets or processed right out of
the field or during the early storage season.
- Clearwater Russet, an exceptionally attractive, mid- to full-season
potato for both freshpack and processing that offers 38 percent more
protein than Russet Burbank and excellent fry color out of storage.
 Stark
At the University of Idaho’s Aberdeen Research and Extension Center, Jeff calls
the trio of new potatoes “definite improvements over many of the established
varieties.” Stark is Idaho coordinator of the Tri-State Potato Variety
Development Program, a collaboration of the University of Idaho, Oregon State
University, Washington State University and USDA’s Agricultural Research
Service.
Rich Novy, USDA-ARS potato breeder at Aberdeen, expects both Classic and
Clearwater russets to serve as parent plants in an ongoing effort to improve
potatoes’ nutritional content. Clearwater Russet, and to a lesser extent Alpine
Russet, attest to the Tri-State program’s long-standing emphasis on reducing
“cold-induced sweetening”—the accumulation of sugars in tubers during storage
that results in unacceptably dark processed products following frying.
“All three of these potatoes have very good merit,” said Novy, “but the
proof of their value will be their acceptance by industry. As breeders, we
develop and release new varieties, but ultimately it’s industry that has the
final say in their worth.”
For more information, visit
http://www.pvmi.org , the Web site of the Potato Variety Management
Institute. PVMI is a non-profit, grower-controlled company responsible for
promoting and administering new Tri-State varieties.
Contact: Jeff Stark at (208) 529-8376 or jstark@uidaho.edu in
Aberdeen or communications specialist Marlene Fritz at (208) 364-6165 or mfritz@uidaho.edu in
Boise.
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