Cal-Ore Produce: Good Dirt, Great Potatoes
Cal-Ore Produce firmly believes that California’s best potatoes are grown in the Klamath Basin. We visited their Tulelake potato packing shed to see what happens after the potatoes come out of the ground—and why Cal-Ore potatoes deserve a spot in your shopping cart.
Cal Ore Produce
Cal-Ore Produce is a potato packing shed near the California-Oregon border. They pack over 75 million pounds of organic yellow, red and russet potatoes, as well as conventionally grown potatoes – each year! We met with Ryan Finney, General Manager at Cal-Ore Produce, and Marc Staunton, a local potato farmer, to learn more about what happens after potatoes are harvested and what makes California Grown potatoes so special.
What happens after harvest: A behind-the-scenes look at Cal-Ore Produce
In the Klamath Basin, potatoes are harvested from late September through October.
Here, timing is imperative since the Klamath Basin sits at an elevation of approximately 4,000 feet. This means growers must be cautious of looming freezing temperatures and potential snowfall that can damage the crop and prevent the harvest team from accessing the fields.
After harvest, the potatoes are moved to storage facilities, where temperature and humidity levels are carefully maintained to preserve freshness and quality.
When it’s time to pack the potatoes, they’re loaded onto a truck and transported to Cal Ore’s packing shed in Tulelake. When the potatoes arrive, washing and sanitizing take place, followed by sorting and grading, which is done by optical graders that look for any defects. Finally, the potatoes are bagged and shipped to your local grocer.
Cal-Ore is a zero-waste facility, meaning 100% of the product is shipped out. Cal-Ore sends potatoes that don’t pass initial grading (usually due to harmless physical defects) to area food banks. Smaller potatoes are used to make hash browns. Off-grade potatoes are shipped to a local company, where they are processed into a powder and used in dog food.
Good dirt makes for great potatoes
The folks at Cal-Ore make it clear that one thing sets their potatoes apart: good dirt. While most potato farmers prefer sandier soils that leave the crop easier to clean, Klamath Basin potato farmers grow their potatoes in a nutrient-dense black topsoil. This special soil, along with ideal summer temperatures, expedites time from planting to harvest.
Locals also boast that potatoes grown in this region have a fluffier texture and an earthier aroma. Marc recalls, “The Oregon potato commission started a taste test a few years back to figure out the terroir of different areas. The Klamath Basin consistently won all the taste tests for four years straight”. He pauses with a laugh and notes, ” After which they just stopped doing it. I do believe that our potatoes taste better – we have a more full-flavored potato.”
Check out our grower feature on Marc Staunton to learn more about how potatoes are grown in the Klamath Basin!
The CA GROWN difference: Look for the license plate
Cal-Ore proudly displays the CA GROWN license plate on their packaging. Ryan explains, “It was important to put that license plate on our product . When people go to a Walmart or a local organic grocery store and see the CA GROWN license plate, they know the care that our growers put into growing the crop.”
He continues, “When I think about how produce is grown in the Klamath Basin and in the state of California, I look at generations of growers who care deeply for the land, who care for the crop that they grow. They’re people who care deeply about making sure that future generations have the same opportunities that they had, that their grandparents had – to farm and to provide food for the people of the state of California.”
Ryan proudly states, “When a customer sees the CA GROWN license plate, they will know that they are getting the highest quality potatoes. In my opinion, there’s no better potato than a potato grown in the state of California.”
“One thing I wish consumers understood about agriculture is all of the work that goes into getting a product from planting to a store shelf and everywhere in between. The growers work incredibly hard, and our packing sheds work incredibly hard. We take a lot of pride in the product that goes into that bag.” – Ryan Finney, Cal-Ore Produce
Where to find Cal-Ore potatoes
Cal-Ore potatoes are sold at Walmart and other local organic grocers. Next time you’re buying potatoes, look for the CA GROWN license plate on the bag!
Note: Not all Cal-Ore organic potatoes will display the CA GROWN license plate.
Potato Storage Tips
At the ideal temperature and humidity, potatoes can last for months. However, we don’t all have a temperature-regulated storage facility at our fingertips. Most people know to store potatoes in a cool, dark place, but Ryan notes that light is really the biggest consideration. He explains, “A defect you probably see in grocery stores is a green potato. That green on the potato comes from exposure to light. You really want to make sure you’re storing potatoes in a dark place. That’s going to be the biggest thing to help them last a little bit longer.”
Fun fact: Growing your own potatoes at home? Don’t wash your potatoes after they’re harvested! The dirt acts as a natural barrier that helps to extend their shelf life!
Meet Marc Staunton, a California potato farmer
Potato farmer Marc Staunton takes an innovative approach to working with the natural environment. The results are undeniable – healthy potatoes that are full of flavor and store beautifully throughout the winter.
Check out a few of our favorite ways to enjoy CA GROWN potatoes
Article by Hilary Rance. Photography by James Collier.