Packing shed planned Facility will give firm a year-round supply of company-grown product. By Greg

5/26/1997 12:00:00 AM

By Greg Johnson

Packing shed planned Facility will give firm a year-round supply ofcompany-grown product.

By Greg Johnson

Staff Writer

HAMER, Idaho -- Larsen Farms plans to open a packing shed near theColorado-Nebraska border in August that will give Idaho's largest potatoshipper a year-round supply of company-grown fresh potatoes.

The packing facility, located in Wray, Colo., will handle potatoes fromHamer-based Larsen Farms' newly acquired 4,000 acres in the Imperial Valleyregion of southwest Nebraska.

The shed will handle potatoes from other farms in the area in addition to thereds and russets from Larsen's fields.

Anthony Totta, national sales manager for Larsen Farms, based in Kansas City,Mo., said the shed will handle about 1 million cwt. for the season startingAug. 1.

He said the company is in the planting stage now.

Totta said the purchase is part of Larsen Farms' plans to further develop thepotato category for its foodservice and retail customers.

``This gives us a year-round supply of product we grow ourselves and allows usto expand from only Idaho to Colorado and Nebraska. It allows us to be a morebroadline supplier for potatoes,'' Totta said.

Larsen Farms plans to send most of the potatoes from the shed to the freshmarket and only send those not making quality grade to be processed.

Brandon Larsen, who had previously been farm manager in Idaho, will overseethe Wray, Colo., facility.

Totta said no personnel changes were planned.

Larsen Farms' fresh division purchased several thousand acres of land in theImperial Valley of Nebraska earlier this year.

In fall 1996, Larsen Farms contracted with Red River Valley and Coloradogrowers to be co-packers of the America's Finest premium label potatoes. Thenew land gives Larsen Farms a year-round supply of potatoes from its ownfields.

The acquisition of land and the new shed opening come after a two-yearexpansion of regional sales and marketing operations at Larsen.