Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/853324
16 POTATO GROWER | AUGUST 2017 It's not just the growing of so many different varieties that can be a logistical minefield. Harvest and storage present significant challenges as well. Countless hours are spent cleaning and sanitizing equipment as it moves from one variety to another on the Karren farm. Varieties have to be stored separately, and with dozens of them, that can be a challenge. While some of his potatoes are stored in bulk in, Karren utilizes box storage for much of his crop. Big yellow crates full of seed potatoes are stacked floor to ceiling in the warehouse, creating almost cathedral-like corridors. "They store really, really well in the crates," says Karren. "With the big piles, you have to worry a lot more about pressure bruise. You can climatize the crates a lot better. It's just a little more time- consuming and a lot more work. "Even the bulk piles are only 15 or 20 acres' worth of one variety," he continues. "So we're always stopping and cleaning up and going again. There's a lot of time involved." Karren has embraced the challenge of growing seed potatoes in Cache Valley. It appeals to his curious nature and his appetite for acquiring new knowledge and skills. "I get bored fast," he says with a laugh. "I'm always looking for something new to do. This has challenged me and has been exciting for me. It's still so new to us and has such a steep learning curve, I still feel a little intimidated by it sometimes. And I haven't gotten bored of it yet." The way things are looking, boredom is likely not something Chris Karren will have to contend with any time soon. The early growing season brought a lot of welcome rain to the Karrens' farm and the rest of Cache Valley. Chris Karren and his son Dillan stand in the Karrens' cellar, surrounded by stacks of potato storage containers