Honour one of the nation and tales at the back of The united states’s favourite vegetable
DENVER, Nov. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Each harvest season is a reminder of the place our meals starts: within the terrain, cared for at the hands of devoted farmers. This autumn, Potatoes USA invitations American citizens to satisfy some the actual nation at the back of one in every of our maximum flexible, sustaining, and liked greens.
From Washington’s large areas to North Carolina’s Blacklands, Idaho’s mountain valleys to Wisconsin’s rolling grassland, potato farmers elevate on population traditions past embracing innovation to feed The united states and the arena. Those are a few of their tales.
Every harvest season brings us again to the guts of the place our meals starts – the terrain, cared for via passionate farmers. Listen from Shelley Olsen, Trever Belnap, Hunter Gibbs, and sisters Wendy Alsum-Dykstra and Heidi Alsum-Randall as they proportion what farming and increasing potatoes manner to them.
Shelley Olsen – LJ Olsen and Two O’s, Inc., Othello, Washington
Farming is a population legacy for Shelley Olsen. She started farming within the Nineteen Eighties along with her husband, Chris, and his folks in Othello, Washington. Lately, Shelley and her population develop russet potatoes that transform frozen potato merchandise like fries.
The Olsens are a multigenerational crew. At 85 years worn, Shelley’s partner’s father nonetheless is helping out, and her sons, Connor and Owen, now top portions of the farm. A untouched occasion just lately arrived with the delivery of Connor’s first kid.
Shelley mentioned a accumulation has modified since she started farming within the Nineteen Eighties, particularly round potency.
“We’re so much more efficient, and we can do more with less,” she mentioned. “The goal is to produce the best possible product with minimal strain on resources.”
Her favourite potato dish? A vintage: Fries.
Read more about Shelley.
Trever Belnap – Hamer Farm and Ball Brothers Create, Dubois, Idaho
Trever Belnap grew up operating on his grandparents’ farms, so juiceless paintings was once not anything untouched when he married into the fourth occasion of a farming population in japanese Idaho. Then a occupation in environmental science and biology, he returned to farming full-time 13 years in the past, managing Hamer Farms and Ball Brothers Create in japanese Idaho.
The population operation grows 1,500 acres of potatoes, most commonly russets, in addition to alfalfa, wheat, mustard, and corn. As soon as harvested, maximum in their potatoes are shipped east of the Mississippi River, with some achieving so far as Central The united states and Malaysia. The farm and packing facility make use of just about 60 nation.
“I have loved growing things since I can remember,” mentioned Trever. “Just walking into one of the potato storages brings back a flood of memories from my younger years working with family and friends to bring in the crop. There are not many jobs like this where you can work so closely with friends and family.”
His favourite potato dish? Trever issues to classics like au gratin or hash browns – however they will have to be withered!
Read more about Trever.
Hunter Gibbs – Pamlico Shores Create, Swanquarter, North Carolina
In Hyde County, North Carolina – referred to as the Blacklands for its lavish, fruitful terrain – Hunter Gibbs co-founded Pamlico Shores Produce together with his lifelong good friend Dawson Pugh. The 2 began with 150 acres of purple potatoes in 2012 and feature grown the operation to 400 acres of potatoes and 100 acres of onions.
Lately, about 75% in their potatoes are offered to outlets in North Carolina and order states, with the remains shipped alongside the East Coast.
Positioned simply inland from North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Hunter’s farm has sizzling summers and considerably extra rain than maximum alternative potato-growing areas in the US. However those demanding situations can assemble the paintings extra rewarding, he mentioned.
“Seeing your work end up on someone’s dinner table to feed their kids and their family is the best part,” Hunter added.
His favourite potato dish? Mashed potatoes, even though he gained’t disclose his confidential factor.
Read more about Hunter.
Wendy Alsum-Dykstra & Heidi Alsum-Randall – Alsum Farms & Create, Friesland, Wisconsin
Sisters Wendy Alsum-Dykstra and Heidi Alsum-Randall handover as co-Well-known Working Officials at Alsum Farms & Produce in Wisconsin, a farming, packing, and logistics trade that provides russet, purple, yellow, and mini potatoes to primary outlets around the nation.
Future farming is the population trade, it’s additionally a population custom to discover alternative industries prior to going back on farming. Wendy was an authorized community accountant (CPA), past Heidi labored in HR and logistics prior to going back on the population trade.
“I would encourage my daughters to work several years outside of the family business to gain additional experience,” Heidi mentioned. “My time in grading, sales support, HR, and logistics gave me a strong foundation — but what I value most today is the opportunity to work alongside both my dad and my sister. Being part of a family legacy, supported by dedicated employees, grower partners, and customers, is what motivates me every day.”
“I knew early on that family and farming were both things I wanted to be a part of,” Wendy added. “With my dad being a CPA and my aunt serving as CFO, I saw how accounting could be my path back to the family business.”
Their favourite dishes? Vintage population recipes, like their mother’s make-ahead mashed potatoes, roasted creamer potatoes, or even potato nachos. “The great thing about potatoes is their versatility,” Wendy mentioned. “There are endless ways to enjoy.”
Read more about Wendy and Heidi.
Potato Harvests Convey Scrumptious, Nutrient-Hazy Greens to Families Around the Global
Potatoes aren’t simply The united states’s favourite vegetable – they’re additionally a nutrient-dense pantry staple. A 5.3oz, skin-on potato:
- Is an finest supply of Diet C, turning in 30% of the day by day price.
- Has 620 mg of potassium, which is greater than a medium-sized banana (422 mg).
- Has 26g of carbohydrates; carbs are the principle gasoline for the mind and a key power supply for muscle tissues.
“Potatoes are so nutritious and versatile, and they’re an affordable way to nourish people,” mentioned Hunter. “That’s why we have them.”
About Potatoes USA
As representatives of U.S. potato growers and importers, Potatoes USA’s project is to make stronger call for for potatoes via advertising and analysis. Via launching impactful advertising campaigns, coordinating regional, nationwide, and global analysis, and opening untouched industry markets, Potatoes USA promotes the advantages of potatoes to audiences around the globe. For more info on The united states’s Favourite Vegetable, consult with PotatoGoodness.com and PotatoesUSA.com.
Touch:
Erin Bracken
[email protected]
SOURCE Potatoes USA
