Rockey Farms Wins Soil Conservation Award

Center, CO. – Rockey Farms, a founding member of the Specialty Potato Alliance (SPA) won “Conservationist of the Year” for 2011. The award was presented by the Rio Grande Watershed Association of Conservation Districts Farming Division and was announced August 30th, 2011 at the association’s annual meeting in Alamosa.  This is the second form of recognition for the Rockey family, as they were awarded the Center, Colorado Conservation District award earlier this year.  Rockey Farms was selected out of hundreds of applicants and is a result of over two decades of work. Rockey Farms will be considered along with thirteen other watersheds for the State of Colorado award later this month. The winner will be announced at a November ceremony.

 “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.”

Both Brendon and Sheldon are third generation growers, continuing the tradition their Father Warren and Uncle Verlin Rockey inherited over six decades ago. It was Verlin whose vision began the transition from the then flooded market on russets to specialties, focusing on the fingerlings.  Warren Rockey developed specialized equipment to harvest and process these specialty potatoes. Improved land management and new varieties are the results of their vision. “We are stewards of the land “, commented Brendon, “and the more we naturally replenish the soil to keep it healthy, the less we have to worry about treating the crop. Good for the consumer and good for the earth.”  As a farm that produces certified seed, Sheldon Rockey knows that growers seek out their product to help insure good crops.

As 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. “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.”

Rockey Farms is a founding member of the Specialty Potato Alliance. The 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 or Specialty Potato Alliance please contact Richard Leibowitz at the numbers above.

Source: Rockey Farms