Colorado Potato Fun Facts

Colorado Potato Fun Facts Colorado is the second largest fresh potato growing region in the entire United States! There are over 70 unique varieties of Colorado potatoes! Many Colorado potatoes are grown in the San Luis Valley which is the largest alpine valley on Earth!  This valley sits at 7,600 feet above sea level-which is almost a mile and a half! Many Colorado potatoes are also grown around Greeley, which is near the Denver area! 50,000 to 65,000 acres of potatoes are planted in Colorado each year! That’s around 78... Read More

Durango School District Receives Salad Bar Donations

Durango Receives Nine Salad Bars The Durango School District 9-R was the recipient of nine salad bars as part of the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative.  Between the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee and Potatoes USA, all nine of the salad bars that the district needed were donated.  Students and staff alike were excited about the new salad bars and the new lunchtime opportunities they provide. Students Love Their New Salad Bar Linda Weyers and Savannah Schlaufman traveled to Florida Mesa Elementary School in Durango where one of the brand... Read More

“Raising the Bar” at Sanford

Sanford is third SLV school to receive a salad bar As a part of the US Potato Board’s Salad Bar Challenge, Sanford School in Sanford, CO newly received two salad bars for their cafeteria.  The school received both a regular size salad bar and a smaller size salad bar for elementary students.  The Sanford food service staff was thrilled to receive the donation.  Having two sizes of salad bar provided them with the opportunity to better serve students of all ages at the school.   The small salad bar is easier... Read More

Mountain Valley School Receives Salad Bar

Raising the Bar in Saguache Mountain Valley recently became the second San Luis Valley school to receive a salad bar as a part of the US Potato Board’s Salad Bar Challenge.  The new potato bar placed in Mountain Valley is part of an ongoing effort by the US Potato Board and the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee to support healthy eating in schools.  Having healthy options at lunch time can help students develop healthy habits early on. Committed to the Cause The ultimate goal of the program is to increase children’s access... Read More

Tyler Mitchell

Tyler Mitchell | Colorado Potato Advisory Committee
A Family Affair The Mitchell family has been farming together in the San Luis Valley since the late 1930’s.  Tyler’s grandfather started the farm with his uncle and was later joined by Tyler’s Dad. Today Mike is semi-retired and Tyler and his brother Clay do most of the heavy lifting with help from their uncle Ron Crowther.  It’s all hands on deck for planting and harvest, Clay does most of the book-keeping and Tyler manages equipment maintenance on the 1780 acre farm. Leaning Forward Tyler and Clay Mitchell are continually... Read More

Rockey Farms, LLC.

Rockey Farms. Established 1938 Sheldon Rockey and his brother Brendon are the third generation of Rockey’s to run Rockey Farms.  Their grandfather bought the first land in 1938 and farmed until the 1970’s when their father and uncle took over.  Now they’ve taken the operation to the next level incorporating innovative sustainable growing practices and new varieties.  They farm seed and specialty potato varieties on 500 acres plus peas, buckwheat, radishes and about a dozen other crops.  These other crops help break down the hard soil and encourage the right... Read More

Seger West Farm

Fascinated By Potatoes Matt Seger grew up in the Valley but not on a potato farm.  Nevertheless, he was fascinated by the potato harvest as a child and knew it was a business he wanted to get involved in.  After graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in Agronomic Production Management, Matt went to work for Sunny Valley Farms and McNitt Produce for seven years to learn the business. Then, with financial support from his boss, Dick McNitt, he was able to go out on his own. From the... Read More

Jones Farms Organics

Rob Jones | CPAC
Four Generations of Jones in the San Luis Valley You might say that Rob Jones has potatoes in his blood.  His grandfather started farming oats, peas, potatoes and alfalfa in the San Luis Valley around 1925, and they’ve never looked back.  His father took over when it was time for Grandad to retire and Rob did the same with his dad.  Back in the day, the family had to rent the land to farm, but today Jones Farms Organics has grown to 600 acres with an average potato yield of... Read More