There's nothing like lending a helping hand. Wisconsin potato growers give back.

Wisconsin Potato Salad

Charlie Berens and his mom share healthy and humorous banter as they work together to make potato salad using Wisconsin Potatoes!

Most Varieties

Wisconsin is the 3rd largest potato-producing state, but also has another bragging point according to Charlie Berens.

Economic Impact

Charlie Berens knows how impactful Wisconsin Agriculture is to the state!

Wisconsin Potato Nutrition and Buying Local

Charlie Berens has the latest on Wisconsin Potato nutrition and why you should be sure to Buy Local and Buy Wisconsin!

Lower Carbon Footprint

Charlie Berens shares why it’s important to Buy Local and Buy Wisconsin Potatoes.

Research and Sustainability

Science plays a huge role in getting Wisconsin Potatoes to your dinner plates. Just ask Charlie Berens!

Technology

Agriculture is a very technologically-advanced industry. Isn’t it Charlie Berens?

New Spud in Town!

Well cripes alfrighty – there’s a new spud in town. And Ope! He sure has his work cut out for him after going through the Wisconsin Spudmobile!

Thank you for Buying Wisconsin Potatoes!

Wisconsin farmers work hard to produce food for our family dinner tables! When you buy local, you are supporting your local economy and helping farmers feed your family.

Wisconsin Potatoes Power Performance!

Wisconsin Potatoes are perfect for preparing your body before and recovering from physical activity! With the high levels of vitamins and minerals they provide naturally, you can’t go wrong! NHL All Star and Two-time Olympian Joe Pavelski knows from experience as he shares in this commercial.

WPVGA Presents "Harvesting Tax Benefits for Family Farms"

On October 22, WPVGA hosted and recorded a WebEx seminar on Year-End Tax Planning, sponsored by Lincoln Financial Advisors Agribusiness Services, and featuring Attorney Rhett Holland of Husch Blackwell LLP. Many of today’s favorable tax provisions are scheduled to “sunset” on December 31, 2025. But depending on the results of the November election, and the need to raise revenue to pay for the COVID recovery, these changes may happen as soon as 2021. This presentation explored the steps growers, packers and business owners may take this year to maximize savings under the current law and help preserve their operation for future generations. Special thanks to Lincoln Financial Advisors Jeff DeWald and Art Littlefield for bringing this business seminar to the WPVGA.

Wisconsin Senator Mike Gallagher Juggles Potatoes

The 2019 D.C. Fly-in brought some interesting smiles as the Wisconsin Senator began juggling potatoes.

Caring for Wetlands

Grower Nick Somers of Plover River Farms works with Tracy Hames of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association to preserve and protect the wetlands on their farm.

Potato Farms Partner with Conservation Group to Plant Pollinator Habitat

Insect pollinators will soon find more homes on potato and vegetable farms.

About 20 acres of habitat for insect pollinators will be established in central and southwest Wisconsin this fall, thanks to a cost-matching agreement between four large potato farms and Sand County Foundation, a conservation organization working with agricultural landowners.

Northwoods Retail Store Wins Wisconsin Potatoes Display Contest

The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) is pleased to present a 2015 Fat Bob Harley Davidson to the winner of the 2016 Wisconsin potatoes display contest. The Harley is in the state’s Northwoods, and specifically, Trig’s in Rhinelander.

On November 28^th, 2016, members of WPVGA Promotions Committee presented the motorcycle to Trig’s at the Rhinelander store.

Wisconsin Potato Industry Supports 2017 Hurricane Victims

Mother Nature has hit the southern United States with a number of hurricanes this season, the worst of which was Hurricane Irma which struck the Florida Coast, leaving thousands without everyday essentials.

Wisconsin’s potato and vegetable industry is answering the call for help, sending a truckload of potatoes and onions to the Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers, Florida, mid-October.

WPVGA Sponsors Wellers Walk

The Wellers Walk is a unique event that offers participants the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the villagers in Cameroon, Africa, fetching water from the river to fill empty jugs and then hauling them back to the starting point (about 2 miles)! The event raises money to build wells in African cities, therefore, preventing women and children from walking long distances to retrieve clean water for their families. WPVGA donated $2500 to this annual event.

WPVGA Awards Scholarships at Annual Spud Bowl Event

UWSP Chancellor Bernie Patterson introduces the Spud Bowl Scholarship winners at halftime of the Spud Bowl game in Stevens Point.  Also pictured are members of the Spud Bowl Committee including Ann Ninnemann, Tamas Houlihan and Dianne and Nick Somers of Plover River Farms.  There were five Spud Bowl scholarships awarded at $750 each (one recipient is not pictured).

Gifts and Grants

WPVGA regularly supports events and causes throughout the state.

• $1,000 Donation – 5th Annual WI River Water Quality Improvement Symposium
• $500 Donation – Guns ‘n Hoses Charity Softball Game to support Veterans
• $500 Sponsorship – WI Nitrogen Science Summit Meeting
• $250 Sponsorship – Agricultural Safety Connection
• $250 Donation – UW Discovery Farms “Farmer Tested, Environment Approved” Winning Cropping Strategy
• $10,000 Sponsorship – Agricultural Education Center Building project for Wisconsin vegetable industry exhibit

Farm to Fork Commercial

Wisconsin Potato growers provide high-quality potatoes that are nutritious and provide the most nutrients per penny, which makes them outstanding in the field. These facts are included in WPVGA’s Farm to Fork commercial.

Thank the Farmer Commercial

There are many businesses that are heavily involved in agriculture in an indirect way. At WPVGA, those businesses are members of the Associate Division, and they “Thank the Farmer” in this WPVGA commercial.

Water Commercial

Studies show that trees use more water than vegetables and Wisconsin potato growers use precise amounts of water on their crops only when and where it’s needed.

The facts are here in WPVGA’s Water commercial.

Potato-friendly Salad Bar Donation

WPVGA donates a potato-friendly salad bar to South Park Middle School in Oshkosh and offers Farm to School presentations about the industry to 6-8th graders.

WI Potato Growers Donate Potatoes to Feed the Hungry

Eagle River Seed Farm LLC in Eagle River, Wisconsin, and Gumz Muck Farms in Endeavor, Wisconsin, are feeding people in the state and Midwest by collaborating with the WPVGA and Feeding America on a donation of 1800 cwt (four semi loads) of potatoes to various food banks.

The donation began as seed potatoes produced for a USDA-funded research grant in Wisconsin’s Northwoods region of Eagle River and is now feeding families in Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and Tennessee.

Potato Growers Donate Time and Money to Feed Starving Children

Hundreds of volunteers pack more than 100,000 servings of potato meals at the Auxiliary’s hosted Feed My Starving Children event. The meals are filled with dehydrated potatoes and other nutrients, which are essential to feed infants 7-12 months who are transitioning from their mother’s milk to solid foods.

Spudmobile Visits Lambeau Field

Volunteers from across the Wisconsin Potato industry gather at Lambeau Field with the Spudmobile to hand out 800-1,000 samples of potato dishes before football games.

Spudmobile Visits Southern WI

The Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary worked with schools in southern Wisconsin to have the Spudmobile go on a mini tour and visit several schools in the area. Several Auxiliary members also volunteered to help out at each school event, spreading word of Wisconsin Potatoes.

WPVGA Associate Division and Auxiliary Scholarship Winners

The WPGA Board and the WPVGA Associate Division once again partner equally to invest in tomorrow’s leaders by awarding eight outstanding scholars with scholarships amounting to a total of $8,000. The students earning scholarships are Kaitlin Kakes, Kaitlin Woyak, Lauren Sowinski, Nika Wanserski, Rachel Rine, Rachel Smith and Stephanie Fassbender.

WPVGA Sponsors Portage County Youth Soccer

The WPVGA is the proud sponsor of the Portage County Youth Soccer Program this year.  A $400 donation helped pay for the green T-shirts sported by Sam Molski and his son, Grant, shown warming up at the soccer complex on Stevens Point’s east side.  The WPVGA sponsors a team in the 5-6 year-old division.  Heartland Farms, Inc. of Hancock also sponsors a team.

Article on Responsible Water Use Featured in Gannett Newspapers

WPVGA Board Member and Former Board President Andy Wallendal co-authors article on responsible water use. The article explains farmers’ dedication to Mother Nature and conserving her resources.

WPVGA Donates $1,000 to Cancer Research

WPVGA donates $1,000 toward cancer research at the Pink Game, held the same day as the Spud Bowl in Stevens Point in September 2015.