Did you know that the vast majority of the great potatoes in the United States are family businesses? So is! From the State of California to the Carolinas, families like yours work hard all year round to care for, grow and offer potatoes from your farm to your country.
The potato producers of the United States made a great experience and resources to make the potatoes of the United States without the best in the world. The cultivation practices of the potatoes of the United States are the result of many factors:
WORLD CLASS PROGRAMS FOR POTATO CULTIVATION
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) collaborates with researchers from the best universities to carry out internationally recognized programs for cultivation. . These low-intensity high-yield potato programs reduce disease and maximize quality and nutritional properties.
PAPA SEED CERTIFIED HIGH QUALITY
All the United States potatoes that are commercialized are grown from seed potatoes. Certification of the United States seed potato is a formal process in which USDA agencies certify that all standards of the national network have been met. Seed potato producers must meet the following standards:
WIDE SELECTION OF VARIETIES
US farmers in potato products, and in the latest generation of milk uses for a wide range of end uses, from fresh consumption to processing.
IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CULTIVATION
The potato producing regions in the United States have rich and fertile soil and an ideal climate for growing potato tubers. Summers have long sunny days and cool nights, just what the potatoes need. The long, cold winters keep pests and diseases to a minimum. These factors mean that US potato producers can use a minimum of pesticides and fertilizers leading to more sustainable agricultural practices.
METICULAR HANDLING OF SOILS AND CROPS
Farmers in the United States have meticulous soil care. They rotate the potato crop, which means that the potatoes are planted only once every 3-5 years on the same land. This guarantees a healthier harvest in a more sustainable farm. Farmers work with certified agronomists to monitor nutrient levels in the soil at the beginning of the season. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) allow farmers to use precise amounts of fertilizer exactly where it is needed to avoid fertilizing more or less. As the tubers develop in the soil, farmers and agronomists monitor their progress, testing their moisture level and their content of solids and sugars.
PRECISION IRRIGATION
Equipment with state-of-the-art technology measures the water content in the soil and the evaporation rates to determine the precise irrigation needs. Irrigation systems use global positioning technology (GPS) to supply the correct amount of water. Cutting-edge technology is used to monitor the climate so that farmers can adapt irrigation accordingly.
CAREFUL TECHNIQUES OF HARVESTING AND STORAGE
The harvest season implies meticulous control to ensure that the potatoes are not only physiologically mature but their sugar concentrations are at the right level for optimal storage and processing. US potato farmers invest in state-of-the-art specialized equipment to protect potatoes from damage during harvest, handling and transportation. Crops are inspected and sorted by USDA agencies. Later, they are transported to processing plants or storage facilities with controlled climate that conserve their quality and nutrients.
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