Tasteful Selections in Arvin, CA, has been named the 2016 Grower Achievement AwardSM recipient by American Vegetable Grower® magazine. The award was presented at United Fresh’s Washington Conference on Sept. 13.
The American Vegetable Grower Grower Achievement Award program, sponsored by AgroLiquid, recognizes vegetable growers who strive for excellence in all aspects of production including the use of innovative production practices, implementing the latest technology, finding new markets for products, and demonstrating leadership in the industry.
A producer of specialty potatoes, Tasteful Selections is a vertically integrated operation noted for its ingenuity in finding new markets, creating an extensive variety development program, and constructing a $30 million, 200,000-square-foot state-of-the-art processing facility – all while maintaining a sustainable enterprise.
Tasteful Selections grows potatoes that are sold in 15,000 stores in all 50 states, representing 35% of the specialty potato market. The operation also produces carrots, watermelon, and garlic on a total of 9,000 acres.
“It is an honor to present Tasteful Selections with the 2016 Grower Achievement Award. With a focus on sustainability from the field to the processing facility, this operation strives to increase efficiencies from variety development to planting, harvesting, and packing,” said Rosemary Gordon, editor of American Vegetable Grower magazine.
Bob Bender, President and General Manager of Tasteful Selections, is an experienced grower who began producing potatoes on a custom basis for South Dakota-based CSS Farms in the early 1990s. Fast forward to today, and Tasteful Selections is growing potatoes from Washington and California to Nevada and Arizona to ensure year-round production.
