Potato Grower

Potato Grower Annual 2020

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WWW.POTATOGROWER.COM 9 THE BEST PRODUCTS • THE BEST SERVICE • THE BEST PRICE Celebrating 38 Years! SINCE 1982 GEAR BOXES • TIMKEN BEARINGS • ROLLERS HYDRAULICS • BELTED CHAIN BELTING • SPROCKETS A U T H O R I Z E D D E A L E R F O R ® Liquid Handling Products 208-356-4317 WWW.MAUPINAG.COM 1217 S. RAILROAD AVE SUGAR CITY, ID 83448 TILLAGE • ELECTRIC MOTORS 4074-2MaupinWelding12v.indd 1 12/2/19 10:48 AM FOR ALL OF YOUR USED POTATO EQUIPMENT NEEDS Bruce (208)390-5120 • Evan (208)757-8481 SpudEquipment.com 4080-4TriSteel16h.indd 1 4080-4TriSteel16h.indd 1 8/4/20 1:57 PM 8/4/20 1:57 PM treated like a commodity. You don't have that huge industry to fall back on. If you get in much trouble, you're kind of the only man out there floating around." SouthWind Farms' start at the dawn of the millennium coincided with the rise of the internet, the foodie movement, and media outlets such as the Food Network introducing the public to new and exciting ways to enjoy old favorites like potatoes. Year by year, SouthWind Farms grew—from four acres that first year, to eight, then to 16. As their collective understanding of the production side of the fingerling potato business grew incrementally and steadily, so too did their customer base. Today, they grow, pack and ship about 700 acres' worth of marketable fingerlings, as well as 50 additional acres on which they produce their own seed. The SouthWind packing facility in Heyburn can ship fingerlings in packages ranging in size from 24 ounces for retail customers, to 2,000-pound totes for their largest foodservice customers. Several of SouthWind's customers from the earliest days—discovered by simply typing "fingerling potatoes" into the Google search bar—are still with them. "One of our biggest milestones," says Rod with a wry smile, "was the first food show we went to where we didn't all share a hotel room. Thankfully, don't have to do that anymore." A major component of the company's success has been a stringent food safety program. Primus and GAP audits are conducted every year, and guidelines are strictly adhered to. That attention to detail has kept old customers coming back, and acted as an invitation to new customers. "Food safety is a big deal to us," says Robert. "It's a big deal to the whole industry, and it's only going to get bigger." Robert, Jerry and Rod are each quick deflect personal credit for SouthWind's success. They credit their customers for being both trusting and demanding. They credit their wives and kids. They credit the promotion machine built by the Idaho Potato Commission. They credit their employees, many of whom have been on staff for well over a decade. And, of course, they credit each other. "The whole partnership has been great," says Jerry. "It's been a family-type deal the whole way.

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