The COVID-19 pandemic has caused some uncertainty surrounding the demand for frozen potato products and as a result, process potato growers reduced planted acres. Now, Northern Plains Potato Growers Association Marketing and Communications Director Ted Kreis said processors see demand improving better than expected. “As some local growers know for sure, processors stopped taking additional potatoes this spring and had cut additional acres for the fall. This seems to have done an about-face after some of those processors got rid of potatoes through other channels like retail and dehydrators,” said Kreis. “Now, processors are coming back to growers and taking all of the potatoes they have left in storage for the remainder of this season. In many places, the contracts have been restored to their full capacity for next year.” Kreis said contract changes vary between each grower and processor. “I think this is a big deal, but especially important for growers in the northwest part of the U.S.”
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