Posts Tagged “RPE”

New Potato Variety, 12 Years to Develop, Debuts in Stores This Fall

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Bancroft, Wis. — Potato innovation doesn’t happen overnight or even in one growing season. Agronomists are long at work in test fields across the globe with the goal of growing better-tasting, better-looking, and better-growing potatoes.

These trials take years and the number of test candidates at the onset of testing might start out at 200 different varieties with eventually one or two reaching commercial production. This is the story of how new potato varieties are born.

RPE, Inc. — a full service grower, shipper, marketer of fresh potatoes – is delighted to bring a new, premium red potato variety to potato consumers this fall.

RPE Golden Red™ premium potatoes are the new gold standard in red potatoes,” says Tim Huffcutt, Vice President Sales & Marketing Operations for RPE. “Compared to common red potatoes, these superior stunners have a vibrant red skin with a rich yellow interior and a sweet creamy taste.”

This potato variety started out in the Netherlands where it showed early promise based on yield, internal and external quality as well as disease and insect resistance. Likewise, the variety performed well in growing regions of the U.S. and Canada. Sensory testing showed that not only does the Golden Red taste better than standard, mainstream red potatoes; its internal and external appearance outshines its commodity counterpart.

Beyond the appearance of the Golden Red is its performance in the kitchen and flavor. Research Chef Chris McAdams said of Golden Red, “I truly believe this potato was built for potato salad, it’s phenomenal in that application. Once it’s cooked, it holds its shape and texture much better than comparable potatoes. When you cut it after boiling it doesn’t break apart or get grainy, which is what makes it ideal for a potato salad.”

Chef Chris also recommends consumers prepare this potato either boiled, roasted or fried. “These methods,” he said, “highlight the creamy texture and sweet, mildly-earthy flavor.”

Custom-created recipes and more information about Golden Red can be found on RPE’s website, RPEspud.com/our-products/golden-red-potatoes/

Golden Red is an RPE exclusive varietal. RPE and parent company, Wysocki Family of Companies, since the 1950s have been potato industry innovation leaders. Innovation in storage longevity and crop management along with trial varietals are the bedrock of the company and remain a core value today.

Golden Red premium potatoes will be available this fall in a three-pound, poly light-blocker, bilingual bag.

About RPE

Category leader RPE is a grower/shipper of year-round potatoes and onions, providing category innovation and retail solutions. Varietal development is just one way we combine our progressive farming heritage and our visionary agronomy practices.

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CSS Farms Partners with RPE on Agri-Pack Onion and Potato Shipments

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A34By RPE

BANCROFT, Wis. — CSS Farms, a multi-state agriculture company producing onions and chip and specialty potatoes, and RPE — category leader and year-round grower/shipper of potatoes and onions — announce the selection of RPE as exclusive marketing partner of Agri-Pack, a CSS Farms subsidiary and Pasco, WA-based grower-packer-distributor of potatoes and onions.

CSS Farms Managing Partner Reagan Grabner said the partnering organizations share a collaborative mindset, strategic approach and entrepreneurial spirit, noting RPE and CSS Farms have worked effectively together since 2010 as joint venture partners in Tasteful Selections, an industry leader in the bite-size potato category, growing it from 1 ½ percent of the United States market eight years ago to 18 percent today.

Since the 2017 mid-year acquisition of Agri-Pack by CSS Farms, a commitment to positioning the business for future growth has been apparent, Larry Denke of Agri-Pack sales said. “I already have witnessed significant investment in the business to bring even more innovation to our operations in the northwest.

RPE in the past decade expanded from a company operating almost exclusively in Wisconsin to a diversified organization selling from every onion- and potato-producing state in the United States and Canada.

Russell Wysocki, RPE president, expects Agri-Pack operations to anchor a comprehensive onion program supplying food service companies, restaurants, retailers and other entities servicing and selling directly to consumers.

“Agri-Pack will be the cornerstone of an expanding onion program that contributes to growth of an entire industry, just as we have demonstrated with the potato industry during the last 10 years,” Wysocki said.

RPE as a sales and marketing entity has considerable experience working with growers and customers alike to introduce innovations while expanding the potato and onion categories.

CSS Farms, a nationwide agricultural business, provides innovative solutions and superior quality and service.

Agri-Pack is a Pacific Northwest farming and packing operation of an extensive and high-quality onion and potato crop.

RPE, a second-generation family farm, is a category leader and key grower/shipper of year-round potatoes and onions.

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