While there are some organic potato varieties in tight supply, there are enough organic russets in storage to offer promo opportunities as new crop potatoes surface over the next couple of months. 

“Organic supplies seem to be okay,” said Chief Organic Officer Lonnie Gillespie of Farm Fresh Direct of America in Monte Vista, Colorado. “There are limited supplies of organic reds and yellows, and they may run short, but it does not look like we will gap on russets.”

Lonnie Gillespie, Chief Organic Officer, Farm Fresh Direct of America

It is always difficult to gauge how long the potato crop will last at this time of year, Gillespie said, because it is coming out of storage and until each bin is graded, a packer is never sure of the yield. “I know what I have in storage right now, but for everyone else I can only go on rumors,” Gillespie said.

California growers will start digging their new crop in April, which will offer the first new source of organic production. Gillespie said it is also difficult to get a gauge on the market price of organic potatoes because the majority is sold on contract. 

“There are limited supplies of organic reds and yellows, and they may run short, but it does not look like we will gap on russets.” - Lonnie Gillespie

She noted that Farm Fresh Direct sells its organic russets in 3- and 5-pound bags, with more sales in the 3-pound configuration. Gillespie said there are ad and promotional opportunities available for organic russets. She reiterated that her organic russet supplies should last until Colorado starts digging its new crop in July, and Farm Fresh is also offering organic yellow fingerlings.

Rachel Atkinson-Leach, vice president of brand & category excellence for RPE in Bancroft, Wisconsin, also weighed in on the organic potato supply situation as spring arrives. “Wisconsin is completely done with all organic varieties,” she said, noting that organic russets appear to be more readily available in Colorado, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. She expects there will be organic storage russets until mid to late June from several points of origin.

“RPE will focus on [organic] reds and yellows in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Canada. Old crops will wind down by mid to late May for round varieties,” she said. “For June and July, supplies are very limited until new crop availability in California and Arizona.”

Rachel Atkinson-Leach, Vice President of Brand & Category Excellence, RPE

Atkinson-Leach revealed that organic baby potato supplies have remained steady as RPE comes to the end of storage and begins its new crop harvest in April from the desert. 

“Quality has held up well in storage, with a heavier demand on yellows over reds, which is felt broadly throughout the industry on all sizing and types,” she said. “We anticipate a strong harvest as crop stands and test digs are indicative of nice sets in each plant and a high-quality finished product thanks to some great weather this season. RPE plans on promotional volume availability by May, which will continue through the summer with another large harvest of fresh new crop coming off the fields in August.”

Organic fingerlings will also be available at the same time from the West. “A full assortment of reds, yellows, and purple organic fingerlings will be available starting in mid-April,” Atkinson-Leach said. “These organic varieties include Austrian Crescent (yellow), Amorosa (red), and Purple Majesty. All indications are that these are looking good and will produce a strong yield.”