PFI Field Day: Growing, Processing and Marketing Onions and Potatoes for Wholesale Outlets

PFI Field Day: Growing, Processing and Marketing Onions and Potatoes for Wholesale Outlets

A few fields near Fertile, Iowa, look different than others in the area. Kittleson Brothers, owned by Steve Rachut, grows 30-plus acres each of onions and potatoes. Steve’s uncle, Ron Rachut, grows an additional 2 acres combined of each crop, having downsized during retirement, at nearby Fertile Valley Gardens. Steve and Ron each grow their crops primarily for wholesale markets. At this enterprise scale, production, handling, packing and marketing look different to most direct-market farms in Iowa. But operations this size are important for fulfilling state and regional demand for food.

This Practical Farms of Iowa field day will visit two sites. We’ll start at the Kittleson Farms site, at 3622 Dogwood Ave, to discuss machinery and crop fields, followed by lunch at noon. Then we’ll move to Fertile Valley Gardens, at 3551 Dogwood Ave., to see Ron’s vegetable handling and packing facility.

**This event will be presented in English with Spanish interpretation available. 

Learn More and RSVP: https://practicalfarmers.org/events/field-days/2024-field-days/onions-and-potatoes-for-wholesale-outlets/

Sponsor

• Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program Project, Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University
• Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association
• Healthy Harvest of North Iowa