The harvest for fall potatoes in California continues, and volumes have been reported to be up generally. But some growers have also reported a reduction in quality.
“We have potatoes year-round,” says Mike Haddad of Kirschenman Enterprises. “Right now, we're harvesting the fall crop in Bakersfield, and that should run until March. Volume has been about the same as in previous years." Regarding quality, Haddad says that although the crop wasn't poor by any means, it was below normal.
“The crop has been about 25% lower in quality,” says Haddad.
Throughout the state, the USDA reported an overall increase in the fall potato production. Production was pegged at 4.13 million cwt, up 46% from the previous year.