Potato Grower

September 2016

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/716604

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 16 of 39

WWW.POTATOGROWER.COM 17 END OF PIVOT SOLUTIONS — NEW! R55, R75 & DELTA P FOR SRNV100 1/2" & 3/4" IMPACT REPLACEMENTS ORBITOR LOW PRESSURE SMALL DROPLETS NEW! 1000 SERIES VALVES FOR ZONE CONTROL ASK ABOUT NELSON TWIG ® WIRELESS CONTROLS FOR IRRIGATION AUTOMATION BROWN PLATE ROTATOR ® — HIGHEST UNIFORMITY irrigation technology for the future nelsonirrigation.com ® FIND YOUR CROP SPECIFIC WATER APPLICATION SOLUTION. Nelson Irrigation offers a complete line of products for a variety of applications — finding the right one is easy. By answering a few simple questions you can lock in on the product that is right for you. If quality and performance are what you expect the answer is simple. BUY AMERICAN — CHOOSE NELSON. ® NEW! 3030 SERIES PIVOT SPRINKLERS & MULTI-FUNCTION 3NV NOZZLE 154202NelIrr12h.indd 1 10/26/15 10:49 AM "Sometimes it just rains so much it's tough to get anything done," says David. "But this place is still pretty good to us." CHIPPING IN The Fazios began growing in the early 1980s after a neighboring farmer saw success growing for Frito-Lay. Contracts were secured with Frito-Lay and Blue Bell, and the JD Ranch potato operation was born. In 1986, an upstart Seattle chip company named Tim's Cascade Snacks was founded. JD Ranch was one of Tim's first potato suppliers, and today almost all the Fazios' potatoes go to Tim's. "Tim's has been a great partner for us," says David. "We've always tried to give tham a good product. They've helped us during times when our quality may have been lower than we expected, and they've helped us when we've had oversupply of potatoes. "Tim's is always commenting how they like us because they never have to worry about us having a water shortage like a lot of their other growers." NOT GOING ANYWHERE David Fazio's four sons—DJ, CJ, BJ and AJ, aged 17 to 22, respectively—love Sauvie Island and love the farm. Each fully expects to live out his life working the land three prior generations have. "We're the kind of family that, when we go on vacation, it's to another farm," says AJ. "That's what we really want to do. In fact, we're going down to California next week just to see somebody's new cabbage harvester." If other growers are smart, they'll pack up the kids and head to Sauvie Island. The Fazios are excellent tour guides. Fazios are excellent tour guides. JD Ranch's main farm shop is nearby the original plot of land Antonio Fazio homesteaded in the 1940s.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Potato Grower - September 2016