Wada Farms Celebrates 80 Years of Growing Potatoes

Lori Taylor is the Founder & CEO of The Produce Moms. For ten years she sold fresh produce to over 300 grocery stores throughout the United States, and today she is fully focused on working with the produce supply chain, media, and government to increase fresh produce access & consumption in the US and around the globe.

Ever heard of Wada Farms? As a leader in the potato industry, chances are you’ve probably had their potatoes in your morning hash or your sweet potato casserole at Thanksgiving.

Wada Farms Celebrates 80 Years of Growing Potatoes

Wada Farms has been around for 80 years! It’s because of their humble beginnings, sustainability practices, hard work, and dedication that they’ve been around for three generations. But don’t let the big name fool you. There’s a rich family history behind the success that’s brought Wada Farms to 80 years of serving you and your family with the best quality produce.

Wada Farms Celebrates 80 Years of Growing Potatoes

Frank Wada immigrated from Japan to California when he was 13 years old. When World War II broke out, Japanese Americans were forced to relocate. Frank and his wife, Agnus, moved inland to Pingree, Idaho, to avoid the internment camps. Their goal was to grow high-quality, nutritious foods. In 1943, they produced their first crop on 160 acres of rented land. For the next 29 years, Frank’s hard work and dedication landed him an expert in his field — especially with potatoes.

Wada Farms Celebrates 80 Years of Growing Potatoes

Frank’s son, Albert, grew up working on the farm from an early age and took over when Frank retired. By that point, Wada Farms had grown to cover 400 acres. Today, it’s a corporation that includes 30,000 irrigated acres over three counties in Southeast Idaho. Albert’s dedication and innovation helped make their first packaging facility, truck fleet, and national marketing venture a reality.

Wada Farms Celebrates 80 Years of Growing Potatoes

In 2010, Albert felt it was time to hand the potato baton off to his oldest son Bryan, the current CEO. Wada Farms continues to be a leader in the potato industry with its high farming standards and leadership.

Wada Farms Celebrates 80 Years of Growing Potatoes

Sustainability plays a major role in the quality of the potatoes, the work environment for the employees, the soil, and the health of the planet. Wada Farms works hard to thrive in each of these areas for a more sustainable future.

Wada Farms Celebrates 80 Years of Growing Potatoes

Most things you do in life come with risks, even our jobs. Bryan is committed to keeping the work environment safe for all of his workers every harvest season. He aims to make it through each harvest season with as few accidents as possible, taking precautions to meet that goal.

Wada Farms Celebrates 80 Years of Growing Potatoes

With 30,000 acres, Wada Farms grows a lot of potatoes. To maximize the amount of produce and minimize the effects on the land, they’ve adopted regenerative agriculture to grow crops in harmony with the land they use. Different crops are planted on the same plot of land to keep the soil rich with nutrients. And that’s one of the reasons why they’re the leader of the pack… or should we say sack.

To learn more about Wada Farms, how to select, store and serve and potato recipes click the link below!