For second year, Simplot and McDonald's Japan recognize Basin potato growers
Washington Ag Today November 26, 2010 McDonald’s Japan has again teamed with JR Simplot to recognize potato growers in the Basin who help them provide high quality product to an increasingly competitive international market. The top five farms who produce premium potatoes for McDonald’s french fries and hash browns in Japan were recognized at a dinner held in their honor earlier this month in Moses Lake. Bret Nedrow, Simplot Regional Raw Procurement Manager at the Moses Lake plant, said, “The growers were selected based on their support of the industry and their high quality raw product. Their raw product was delivered and used at Moses Lake and Othello to produce the consistently superior fries and hash browns that McDonald’s is known for in their restaurants worldwide.” Receiving awards were Jerry Radach, Radach Farms; Dan Piper, Piper Farms; Larry Schaapman, Integrity AG, Inc; Eli Wohlman of the Warden Hutterian Brethren; and Frank and Keith Tiegs, Greenridge Farms. Among them, the growers produced four varieties: Umatilla, Russet Burbank Ranger Russets, and Shepody. Additionally, this year one of the five growers was recognized by McDonalds and JR Simplot as the Top Potato and selected to visit McDonald’s Japan in Tokyo as their guest, touring their facilities and stores. Larry Schaapman of Integrity Farms was awarded that further recognition. Neither Larry nor his wife Julie has previously visited Japan. That’s Washington Ag Today. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I’m Bob Hoff on Northwest Aginfo Net. ?
