Potato harvest in the Klamath Basin 092408

Our Klamath Basin Water Crisis
Upholding rural Americans' rights to grow food,
own property, and caretake our wildlife and natural resources.

http://kdrv.com/news/local/47034 < Story and VIDEO

Potato harvest underway in Klamath Basin

By Ron Brown, KDRV, September 22, 2008

NEAR MERRILL, Ore. -- While the pear and grape harvest is an important part of the Rogue Valley's economy, the potato harvest, a staple of the Klamath Basin, is now underway.

From Klamath Falls to Tule Lake, workers are busy digging and sorting a potato crop that is getting more diverse every year. Yukon, gold, white, and red potatoes are being packaged for shipment.

"We used to grow all Russett-type potatoes, and now 80 percent of our potatoes are either reds or white or yellows, purples, fingerlings, organics. We're doing a lot of different things now, besides just Russett potatoes," says Dan Chin with Wong Potatoes.

However, Chin says potato acreage in the basin is down from about 30,000 acres 15 years ago, to about 8,000 acres now.

Wong hires about 30 packers and 40 to 45 harvesters every year.