UPGA: Specialty spuds not a panacea for high-volume market

Potato growers and shippers planning to bypass a potential repeat of the current volume-heavy and price-light market are advised not to turn to specialty varieties as a solution.

“The fundamental concepts apply across the board,” said Lee Frankel, president and chief executive officer of the Salt Lake City-based United Potato Growers of America, which was created a few years ago as a way to keep growers apprised of market conditions and to keep production under control.

“There’s different aspects of specific supply within reds, for instance,” Frankel said.

“The B sizes are relatively tighter in the market compared to the A sizes. The same concept (goes) for them of not building inventories for products that are not selling.”

As it is, red-, purple- and yellow-skinned varieties and fingerlings are attracting plenty of attention, said Duane Maatz, executive director of the Antigo-based Wisconsin Potato &Vegetable Growers Association.

“Some of these varieties are being produced on the seed level, and there is a fair amount of exploration,” he said.

“I think there’s an awful lot of interest in it. I don’t think anybody is going to jump in front of the market, but we have growers who are making that consideration very seriously. I think our proximity to markets gives us an advantage.”