Potato Crop

Schneider Farms (Pasco WA) which is one of Robin’s lessees was told by Lamb Weston that they are not going to take the last of the 2019 Potatoes that they contracted for.  This represents 20% of the 2019 crop and according to Ed Schneider (owner) Simplot is following suit.  Ed Schneider (past WA Potato President and past National Potato President) also owns Elite Seed which buys and cuts potato seed for growers in the Columbia Basin has experienced a 50% reduction in cut seed orders this spring which creates real issues because he has already taken delivery of the seed potatoes and is in the process of cutting them for his customers.

Submitted by Craig Lindquist, Class 31