News and Stories

2016-2017 New Crop White Russets

• New crop White Russet harvesting is underway; potatoes will be stored in cellars, allowing potatoes to undergo the sweat process before shipment
• Temperatures have been ideal through the White Russet growth phase
• Quality is excellent
• High yields are forecast
• Growers will begin shipping out of storage the week of October 24 and continue through early September 2017 or until supplies are depleted (whichever comes first)
• Storage supplies were depleted by mid-July this past year
• Growers increased acreage for the 2016-2017 season by 30% to extend the storage season
• The White Russet possesses unique characteristics
• Internal tissue remains white when cut or peeled, while conventional Russet potatoes begin to darken once exposed to air/oxygen
• These qualities enable efficiencies in the kitchen:
• Chefs do not have to soak potatoes in citric acid or sulphates
• Kitchen shrink is reduced
• Black spots and bruising caused by handling are reduced up to 45%
• Acrylamide is reduced 50% to 80% when baked or fried at high temperatures; studies show that acrylamide has caused cancer in animals when exposed at very high doses

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

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