July/August 2021 - 10

Strohauer Farms packing and shipping operation has to be flexible to
handle all the different varieties they grow.
mass amounts, you couldn't really have conventional russets
be viable. "
Today, Strohauer Farms grows conventional and organic
potatoes - russets, reds and yukons and red, yellow and purples
fingerlings. The farm previously grew onions as a cash crop, but
continually had issues with hail, but still grows shallots, as well
as corn, hay, wheat and triticale.
The Strohauers started experimenting with specialty potato
varieties in 2006 and received early interest from Whole Foods,
which wanted organically grown potatoes, but it was the water
scarcity that really pushed them to diversify how they grow and
what they grow.
Although they still grow more conventional potatoes
than organic, they said adding organic and a lot of specialty
varieties, which are grown in small plots, has helped them
become better farmers.
" It's really in our blood, at this point, " Amber said, " but we do
things so much more differently than we did even 10 years ago. "
There has been a lot of trial and error with organic growing
since they started 15 years ago. That continues even now, as
more organically approved crop protection agents enter the
market, but added that expectations for visibly pleased and
perfect-sized potatoes also have gotten higher.
" I sometimes question if it gets easier, even though we have
more tools in our toolbox, " said Harry. " There used to be more
tolerance for misshapes or silver scurf or things like that, but I
think we're now held to a higher standard for our organics than
we are for our conventional. ... We sort our organics harder
than we do our conventionals. "
Amber said growing public awareness of food waste, which
was heightened in the early stages of the pandemic, has been
helpful in that department.
" One benefit among so many unfortunate things during this
pandemic is that there has been a bigger market for No. 2 and
imperfect potatoes, specifically organics, which has helped, "
she said. " This year saw a huge spike in consumers being willing
to go the imperfect route. "
Harry said he noticed Colorado potato beetle pressure -
which had not been a problem with conventional potatoes -
10
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