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

Hosts

Steve Rachut | Kittleson Brothers and
Ron Rachut | Fertile Valley Gardens

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 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.