HOW WE GROW

P&K Vander Zaag Farms grows potatoes primarily for processing into potato chips. The crop year starts with planting season in May, then the potato will grow from June to September.

During the growing season we closely monitor fields for pests and diseases and apply water as required. In September the crop is harvested and piled into our storages. The potatoes are stored for anywhere from one to eight months before being sent to a factory.

Our shipping line uses state of the art washing and optical imaging to sort potatoes to ensure that our processing partners receive only high quality potatoes- the first step to making a delicious chip!

We believe that to be a farmer is to be a steward of the land; that it is our responsibility to use finite resources with care and to give back to the land in greater measure than we take from it.

On our farm, we prioritize soil health by using multi-species cover cropping, biologic supplements, and integrated pest management.

Integrated Pest Management is the practice of closely surveying the crop through the growing season to determine the presence and severity of pests in the field. This allows us to minimize costs and chemical applications by only applying pesticides when absolutely required.

Multi-species cover cropping is the practice of planting anywhere from 10-15 species of grasses, legumes, and brassica between a grain and potato crop. We have been cover cropping since 2015, each year adjusting the blend based on the previous year's experience. Doing this builds soil health by improving soil structure and supplementing organic matter.

At P&K Vander Zaag Farms conventional fertilizers are supplemented by the application of biologic products, manure, and compost. We trade discarded potatoes with a neighbouring dairy farmer for manure, which is either spread directly onto a field or taken to our compost location. We use this dairy manure, alongside horse manure, straw (taken from a field in its off-potato year), and corn silage to create our own compost.

A final important factor to help us be good stewards of the land is the protection of water. We have water efficient irrigation systems and soil moisture monitoring. This maximizes the effectiveness of water applications to the potato crop in season. The storage is set up with a system of settling ponds so that water from the wash line is returned to the environment free of sediment.