News and Stories

New crop Idaho White Russet Potatoes will be available to start shipping Friday, October 28. Early reports from growers indicate 40- to 60-count supplies will dominate the crop; 70- to 120-count stocks will be tighter. Sufficient levels of both No. 1 and No. 2 grades are projected to be available through September 2017. Prices are expected to be higher than those for the Burbank variety, depending on size and grade.    

The White Russet potato’s shape and netting are very similar to the Idaho Burbank and Norkotah varieties. Even trained potato experts cannot tell a White Russet from the conventional varieties when sitting side by side. Last season, Ben E. Keith’s Dallas-Ft. Worth office conducted a time-lapsed photo session comparing the White Russet potato versus a Burbank potato once both varieties were cut. Please see the attached photos for the results.

• The first photo shows two potatoes being used for a potato cutting (click here to view the raw potatoes)
• 8:20 a.m. CST: the initial cut was performed on both varieties (click here to view the cut potatoes)
• 9:00 a.m. CST: second photo was taken (click here to view the photo)
• Note the browning in the Burbank potato
• The White Russet retains the same color as when initially cut
• 12:30 p.m. CST: the third photo was taken
• Photo indicates significant browning in the Burbank potato (click here to compare the browning)
• The White Russet shows no indication of browning

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

©2016 Markon Cooperative, Inc. All rights reserved.

UPDATE: WHITE RUSSET IDAHO POTATOES   

October 19, 2016

2016-2017 New Crop White Russets

• New crop White Russet harvesting is complete; potatoes are currently undergoing the sweat process before shipment
• The sweat process lasts approximately three to four weeks, or until the outer skin is cured sufficiently
• After the sweat process is complete, skins will have a smooth, net-like appearance
• Temperatures were ideal through the White Russet growth phase
• Quality is excellent
• High yields are forecast
• White Russets will be available for shipment October 27 through early September 2017 or until supplies are depleted (whichever comes first)
• Storage stocks were depleted by mid-July this past year
• Growers increased acreage for the 2016-2017 season to extend the storage crop to early September
• The White Russet variety 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.

©2016 Markon Cooperative, Inc. All rights reserved.