January 18, 1999 The Produce News Vol. 102, No. 3 page 21

Mountain Valley approved as SYSCO vendor, expands machinery

Dunning: 'A little upturn in the market' since the holidays

By Kathleen Thomas

Recent reorganization of the sales department, expansion of the sorting line and carton machine, and approval as a SYSCO vendor have keep the staff at Mountain Valley Produce on its collective toes, according to sales agent Pain Dunning.

Dunning said in early January that the SYSCO approval was a major achievement for the potato and lettuce grower-shipper.

'They have very strict miles and regulations," Dunning said. 'Preparation is pretty complex, and we have to provide them with all details of our operation." Dunning went on to say that SYSCO examines every aspect of the company's shed, looking at temperature controls and conducting microbiological testing on the water.

"Their inspections are so tough," she stated. But in passing muster for the major foodservice supplier, Mountain Valley will now provide potato products for SYSCO receivers nationwide.

"We sincerely hope it's a great volume [requested by SYSCO]. And we feel positive of our capabilities to service their needs," Dunning said. In addition to Mountain Valley's own product, Dunning said potatoes would be sourced from other San Luis Valley growers to fill SYSCO's orders when needed.

Dunning said she and company principal Emie Myers are now handling all sales for Mountain Valley with the departure of Mike Mendenhall.

"We've seen a little upturn in the market since the holidays," she said. "We feel very comfortable in the fact we're getting our label out there and our customers like our product."

Behind-the-scenes activity

While sales are Progressing in the front offices, behind-the-scenes activity is going on in a flurry. We're growing like crazy," Dunning said. "In our warehouse we've doubled our cold storage for finished product and can now hold 20 loads. We're in the final phases of our interior work now, and to date we've doubled the size of our sorting line. We've also increased our carton machine and our capacity to pack cartons."

The company, going into its third year of production, experienced what Dunning termed "very good" yields for the 1998-99 shipping season. 'We have a lot of large potatoes," she said.

She also said that the improvement in the market since the holidays has reached the carton end. Weather in other parts of the United States could be benefitting the valley, she added. 'Wisconsin is having a little bad weather, and we may be getting a weather market right now."

Planting should finish in late May

As far as the upcoming season, Mountain Valley grower Dave Radtke said seed would begin going in the last week of April, with planting to finish in late May.

"We're now a certified seed potato farm," Radtke said, adding that Mountain Valley will plant heavy on Norkotahs and Nuggets as well as some Yukons and Alphas.

The farm's 1,440 acres will also include some small plots of Maris Pipers, Centuries, Crestones and numbered varieties this season, he said.

Tim Miller, Shanan Wright and Ernie Myers of Mountain Valley Produce are shown in front of a pallet of "Yes" brand cartons

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