For the second consecutive year, R.D. Offutt Farms has not harvested some of their potato crops in Minnesota, leaving them to decompose. The decision was attributed to quality issues, despite fulfilling all potato contracts for the year. Jennifer Maleitzke, director of communications for R.D. Offutt Company, highlighted the challenges posed by the weather, which led to selecting only the top-quality crops for harvest. The exact acreage of unharvested potatoes was not disclosed.
In response to fluctuating markets and surplus production, R.D. Offutt Farms has initiated efforts to distribute the excess potatoes. This includes organizing community digs and partnering with Second Harvest Heartland to donate potatoes to food shelves, aiming for a contribution of up to 1 million pounds. Second Harvest Heartland operates across a broad network in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
Concerns about the potato industry's state have emerged, partly due to a plant closure in Washington State and changing consumer behaviors, such as opting for smaller portions in meal deals. Despite rumors, R.D. Offutt Farms maintains its supply relationship with Lamb Weston, a key supplier to McDonald's for french fries.
Lamb Weston has acknowledged a supply-demand imbalance in the North American market, leading to operational adjustments, including the closure of a facility in Washington and workforce reductions. Nonetheless, industry representatives like Gary Shields of the Northland Potato Growers Association in Minnesota view the sector's overall growth positively, citing increased acreage and yields for processed potatoes. Challenges like weather impacts on crop quality and size have been noted, with the recent season presenting difficulties for potato growers in the upper Midwest.
Source: AGWEEK