Center, CO. – Rockey Farms, a founding member of the Specialty Potato Alliance (SPA,) who had previously received recognition from the county, region and state gained national attention as the 2012 recipient of the Soil And Conservation Society’s Merit Award. The award was presented on July 24th, during the Conservation Society’s annual conference in Fort Worth Texas.
“This could not come at a better time”, reported Brendon Rockey, who is in charge of field operations for Rockey Farms. “With water and transportation prices on the rise, using less water and fewer chemicals helps us keep our costs in line.” Sheldon Rockey, Brendon’s brother and operations manager for the farm agrees. “Our cleaner, greener farming gives us better yields, more consistent sizing and great color. That means a better product and a happier customer.”
As third generation leaders of land management in the San Luis Valley, Rockey Farms believes strongly in how they are restoring and maintaining their soil, and they openly share their practices with neighboring farmers and other growers throughout the state and agricultural community nationally. “Agriculture needs this”, noted Brendon “the reward is a nice vindication of what the right direction is, but the harvest tells us that the soil is properly fertile.”
SPA markets three proprietary varieties developed by Rockey Farms and grown in their award winning soil. The Red Rebel®, a slender and thin skinned fingerling with slightly mottled flesh, the Merlot®, a new purple fingerling variety that actually tastes good, and the Rockey Rose®, a pink flesh, deep yellow skinned fingerling whose taste is beginning to rival the popular Russian Banana and considered to be the best tasting fingerling on the market. “We knew these products were winners when we saw them and now we know why”, commented Dale Firman, SPA partner who runs the Los Angeles distribution facility. Customers in both New York and Los Angeles are now requesting these potatoes by name. SPA will be sampling these new varieties at the PMA in Anaheim, CA this fall.
“One of the goals of the alliance was to market these great new flavors to our customers. The seed development program along with prime growing conditions will allow us to reach a larger market more quickly”, notes Richard Leibowitz, managing director of the Alliance. “Consumers are becoming more aware of where their food comes from and how it is grown, and this recognition is an affirmation that the customer can taste”, Leibowitz concluded.
Maintaining distribution on a year round basis, Rockey Farms provides seed to SPA growers throughout the country so their products will readily available. Along with the new varieties SPA markets a full variety of fingerlings and specialty potatoes. Product is grown both sustainably and organically. Packaging is available for retail and foodservice. Private labeling and custom packaging is available as well.
Specialty Potato Alliance is a dedicated group of growers and shippers committed to providing the healthiest and best tasting specialty potatoes available. Their family of products, proprietary varieties and year round availability has made them trend setters in the potato category. For more information about Rockey Farms soil program or Specialty Potato Alliance potatoes please contact Richard Leibowitz at 908-913-1600 or Richard@potatoalliance.com
Source: Specialty Potato Alliance
