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| COLORADO CERTIFIED POTATO GROWERS ASSOCIATION, Manager Preston Stanley P.O. Box 267 - Monte Vista, CO 81144 - (719)580-1296 or (719)274-5996 E-mail: CCPGA@Yahoo.com |
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| COLORADO CERTIFIED POTATO GROWERS ASSOCIATION, Manager Preston Stanley P.O. Box 267 - Monte Vista, CO 81144 - (719)580-1296 or (719)274-5996 E-mail: CCPGA@Yahoo.com |
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About Us
The Colorado Certified Potato Growers
Association is an association of certified seed potato growers that is over fifty year
old. In the early 1920's potato growers saw the need to
begin a highly focused effort of improving the quality of seed potatoes available to
growers in Colorado and neighboring states. In 1940 the State of Colorado Department
of Agriculture through Colorado State University commissioned the Potato Certification
Service. This service in conjunction with the Colorado Certified Potato Grower's
Association, have gone to great lengths to provide the very best seed potatoes possible.
Today our membership is made up of over 30 seed potato growers that enter seed potatoes for certification by the state of Colorado. The growth of our organization has been largely driven by the development of new, improved potato cultivars, use of new seed production technology, a better understanding of potato diseases and their management, and improved marketing strategies for seed sales. The success of our organization has allowed us to build a disease testing facility and support major improvements in the certified seed program. For a complete listing of our certified growers go to the List of Certified Growers page. To receive a printed copy of the Colorado Certified Seed Potatoes 1998 Crop Directory and Field Inspection Readings contact the Colorado Potato Certification Service at (719)754-3496 or E-mail: slvctr@coop.ext.colostate.edu
About Our Certified Seed
To assure customers receive top quality potato seed the Colorado Certified Potato Grower’s Association mandates that all their growers meet the following requirements:
1. All acreage on any one seed grower operation must be entered for certification insuring all acreage is inspected.
2. In 1986 Colorado went to a full limited generation program; all seed is removed from the program following the seventh year of production.
3. All seed stocks must be derived from disease tested tissue culture stock.
4. Colorado follows a full disclosure policy of printing all disease readings from inspections, making available those readings in our annual seed directory.
Limited Generation Program
Modern testing techniques, such as the use of ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) for virus detection, insure that the entry level stocks are free from harmful potato viruses and bacteria. The next step in production is grow-out in modern grower owned and operated greenhouses. Potato stocks must still test free of any harmful viruses and bacteria.
Colorado Seed Classifications
Nuclear Lab and Greenhouse
G-1 1st Year Field Production
G-2 2nd Year Field Production
G-3 3rd Year Field Production
G-4 4th Year Field Production
G-5 5th Year Field Production
G-6 6th Year Field Production
(Ineligible for Recertification)
Fully tested seed stocks (generation 1) are planted in irrigated fields where they are isolated from lower classifications of seed.
Trained Potato Certification Service inspectors conscientiously read fields for disease levels.
Commitment to Quality
A high level of grower commitment to quality seed is evident in every stage of seed potato production in Colorado. Fields are closely monitored for insect pests using pan traps, sticky cards coupled with individual field screening and an area wide, comprehensive aphid monitoring system. A ‘degree day’ model developed specifically under Colorado conditions is used to predict the timing of the first field infections of early blight. Fields are treated as necessary giving growers very efficient use of the treatments and resulting in lower overall pesticide use than many other areas. Growers use technologically advanced equipment in all stages of production from seed cutting to storage. Strict sanitation is always utilized. Special care is taken during harvest and storage to minimize tuber damage and maximize long term storage.
Partnership Agreement with Colorado State University
| An internationally recognized potato breeding program is
located at the San Luis Valley Research Center of the Colorado State University, providing
our buyers with the most advanced clonal selections available. Since 1975 five new
cultivars have been developed for the fresh and processing industries which are widely
grown in the west. Our Certified Growers assist CSU assure industry acceptance of new
clones by screening them prior to release. We also have potato scientists located in
the major growing areas who work with the potato stocks generated in this program. These
scientists provide our seed growers with feedback and data on our seed stock. This innovative approach coupled with CSU Research and Extension personnel helps Colorado lead in growing the appropriate cultivars that closely fit the buyer’s needs. In 1998 CCPGA, the State Board of Agriculture and CSU, entered into a marketing agreement. The agreement allows CSU to transfer ownership of cultivars to CCPGA. The intent is to allow CSU to focus on potato breeding and development research and allows the CCPGA to focus on marketing Certified Seed of the new cultivars. |
 Dr. David Holm leads one of the top potato breeding programs in North America at the Colorado State University's San Luis Valley Research Center. |
About Our Growing Area...
| What is the High
Altitude Advantage? Our seed potatoes are grown at 7600 feet above sea level in the San Luis Valley, an isolated, arid, high mountain valley, where the summer days are warm and sunny, and the evenings are cool. This climate keeps insect and disease pressure low and gives our seed potatoes high altitude vigor. This high altitude advantage, coupled with a large number of grower-operated tissue culture labs and greenhouses, and our inspection, breeding and research services provides buyers with a large selection of desirable varieties. |
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Centrally Located Colorado holds a unique position, located in the west central part of the U.S., making its seed easily accessible to all major growing areas in the U.S. and Mexico. |
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Rich Potato Growing History
Colorado has a long rich tradition of raising potatoes dating from the early 1880's and today is one of the top production areas in the U.S., raising over 80,000 acres of potatoes. Over 70,000 of those acres are grown in the San Luis Valley, the highest agricultural valley used for potato production in the U.S. Each year approximately 12,000 acres are entered for certification as seed potatoes.