RPE, LLC, RD Offutt Company, Reed Farms, BKR Farms, LLC, Sklarczyk Seed Farms,
PoLoPo and Alsum Farms and Produce join the 45+ members in this growing
organization.
St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin (October 21 , 2024) – The Potato Sustainability Alliance
(PSA) has welcomed seven new members to its organization since the first quarter of 2024
RPE, LLC becomes the third member of the Fresh Marketer Sector to join PSA,
and will be offering access to PSAs annual on-farm self assessment. PoLoPo joins our
Allied Industry Sector. RD Offutt Company, Reed Farms, BKR Farms LLC, Sklarczyk Seed
Farm, and Alsum Farms and Produce join as Grower Associates.
PSA is an inclusive, pre-competitive collaboration of all players in the potato value
chain. PSA and its members work to define, measure, and advance potato
sustainability by using robust metrics to drive improvements in productivity and
profitability. Efforts are focused on protecting the environment and streamlining how
farm-level data is collected and made available to end users.
A new Grower Associate category was added this year to address the unique needs
and important contributions from potato growers. For growers that see value in
demonstrating their sustainability commitment to their customers, PSA offers an
opportunity to connect with an international organization focused on potato
sustainability.
“At every stage of the value chain, from growers to retailers, sustainability issues
continue to grow in importance. Our job at PSA is to help the potato industry work
together, across business lines, to develop comprehensive sustainability guidelines,”
said John Mesko, PSA CEO. “Every time we get to welcome a new member company
or grower, our organizational reach extends further and we are able to be even more
effective in our mission to advance potato sustainability.”
Companies interested in learning more about the benefits of PSA membership are
invited to contact John Mesko at mesko@potatosustainability.org or visit
postatosustainability.org/join-us for more information.
About PSA’s newest members:
RPE LLC – RPE was established in 1971 and is the fresh potato industry leader with
reliable year-round russet, red and yellow commodity and baby potato supplies. RPE
maintains a presence in all major potato producing regions and controls upwards of
18% of the United States fresh potato market. RPE offers strategic nationwide sourcing
including a presence in Canada which makes us the most diverse grower/shipper in
the marketplace. RPE is built to provide strategic support to our customers and
growers within sourcing, quality, pricing, food safety, category management and
sustainability. https://www.rpespud.com/
PoLoPo -A molecular farming pioneer, PoLoPo uses proprietary metabolic
engineering techniques to turn potato plants into micro-biofactories that
manufacture animal-based proteins, starting with egg protein. After accomplishing
all milestones set for the first two years, PoLoPo seeks partners in the potato industry,
especially in the U.S. to grow and process the company’s transgenic potato plants.
The company was founded in 2022 by Dr. Maya Sapir-Mir and her longtime research
partner, Dr. Raya Liberman-Aloni, both specialists in metabolic engineering of plants.
RD Offutt Company – For 60 years, R.D. Offutt Company has been responsibly
farming potatoes, using science-driven, sustainable practices to meet our
customers’ needs to ensure our farm’s productivity today and into the future. We are
committed to investing in soil health, conserving water and keeping the food supply
safe and stable. Together with our partners, R.D. Offutt Company operates more than
15 potato farms across four states in the Midwest as R.D. Offutt Farms and five farms
across two states in the Pacific Northwest as Threemile Canyon Farms. We provide
potatoes to processing facilities across the country which are turned into a variety of
fresh and frozen products.
Reed Farms -Reed Farms is located in Filer, south central Idaho. Alexander and his
wife Leah are the fourth generation at Reed farms, which began in 1916. Alexander
has been farming a variety of crops including malt barley, sugar beets, corn and hay
for 12 years and in 2024 he is a first time potato grower. He has 500 acres of
Clearwater Russets for processing.
Sklarczyk Seed Farm is a third generation farm located in Johannesburg, Michigan.
The hydroponic seed potato greenhouse operation is the focus of the diversified
farm, producing over ten million seed potatoes of more than one hundred different
varieties annually. The on-site tissue culture lab produces plantlets for the
greenhouse, as well as a handful of growers. All minitubers produced by Sklarczyk
Seed Farm are certified to be virus and disease free by the Michigan Seed Potato
Association. Sklarczyk Seed Farm is dedicated to pursuing long-term sustainability
goals through increased diversification, practical research and regenerative
practices. The farm’s mission is to provide good, clean, consistent seed to its
customers across the world.
Alsum Farms and Produce Inc. is a leading fresh market grower, packer and shipper
of Wisconsin grown potatoes, onions, and provider of fresh, quality produce.
Established more than five decades ago and headquartered in Friesland, Wis., Alsum
Farms and Produce is a vertically integrated family-owned farm, packing facility and
logistics company. Committed to sustainability and stewardship of the soil, Alsum
Farms grows 3,000 acres of Wisconsin Healthy Grown® Certified Alsum Potatoes
along with pumpkins. To learn more, visit: www.alsum.com
