01/18/07 Organic spuds in Idaho

Idaho Potato Commission president Frank Muir put it best when he said that Idaho farmers 'need the know how to meet the growing demand for organic produce.' Their failure to produce organic potatoes could mean business for farmers in other states or overseas. In an effort to ensure that there's adequate supply as well as a healthy marketplace for organic potatoes, the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, the Potato Growers of Idaho, University of Idaho researchers and the state's few organic potato farmers have teamed up for what's called the Idaho Organic Potato Project. NCAP's Jennifer Miller says marketing organic spuds in a key to success. MILLER "They've taken a look at what Idaho organic growers are currently doing in terms of their potato sales and the second part is to really take a look at our buyers across the nation and what their needs are and how Idaho growers can best meet those needs." Idaho organic agriculture contributes an annual $6.5 million to the economy but the state already lags behind other western states in organic potato production. Less than 1/10th of one percent or just 260 acres of Idaho's 328,000 potato acres are organic. By contrast, California has the most organic potato acres with 3,430, Colorado has 950, Washington has 670, and Oregon has 650 acres. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott