Like the potato itself, the best parts of SunRISE Potato are not immediately visible. You might have to do a little digging to learn more.

The first VanderZaags emigrated from Holland in 1949, successfully transplanting their extensive knowledge of potato production onto Canadian soil. Peter and Carla spent almost twenty years overseas, studying and developing potato production methods in countries as diverse as Rwanda and the Philippines. Two generations now grow 1000 acres of potatoes annually, having put down roots where the previous generation of VanderZaags originally immigrated.

Today, we focus on the sustainable production of our conventional chipping and table potatoes, organic potatoes and seed production. Our state-of-the-art storage facilities hold 400,000 cwt (18,000 tonnes) in 20 bins, which allows us to ship the crop from September’s harvest to the following July.

History: Holland (1949) to Alliston (2010)

I: Settling in Canada
The VanderZaag family’s roots are in the Netherlands, where Peter’s ancestors grew potatoes in rotation with wheat, beet, flax and other crops. Peter’s uncle Date was a world-renowned potato scientist who ably combined theoretical knowledge with practical experience to help Dutch farmers improve potato production. His methods spread to many other countries in Europe and beyond.

Peter’s parents, Ann and Anne “Van” VanderZaag, and another uncle, Harry, immigrated to Canada in 1949, and after three years of working for other farmers, they purchased a farm near Alliston, Ontario. Their goal was to grow potatoes in a mixed farming operation. During the early years (1952-59), the VanderZaags grew potatoes for the fresh market. Most of the crop was sold straight out of the field at harvest. In 1959, the first potato storage was built; it held 5000 cwt and allowed potatoes to be marketed during the winter months as well.

During the 1950s, the VanderZaags were recognized for being amongst the best potato growers in the area. The brothers used what they had learned in Agricultural school in the Netherlands about soil fertility, viruses and the issues surrounding degeneration of potatoes. Soon the farmers were coming to buy VanderZaag’s small potatoes (less than 50 mm) as seed for the coming year. Uncle Harry also became famous for planting very straight potato rows, as if he had a GPS device in the 1950s! As a boy, Peter got involved in the farm any way he could; his favourite jobs included driving the tractor during harvest and harrowing.

In the early 1960s, the potato business changed dramatically as demand for potato chips grew. Consequently, Dad sold our dairy cows and shifted the focus to potatoes and, to a lesser extent, pigs. We connected with the Hostess potato chip plant in Cambridge (then called Schnieders), which needed chipping potatoes. In those first few years, we sold the variety Kennebec in 100 lb bags loaded onto trucks. By 1963, we had purchased a two-row harvester. We put bulk boxes of about 160 cwt on trailers with airplane tires pulled by our farm tractors. With these trailers, we loaded highway dump trailers with potatoes that were shipped to Cambridge and either chipped immediately or stored for use over the winter.

We continued to grow table potatoes as well, until our total acreage devoted to potatoes increased to about 200 acres by 1970. The chip industry continued to expand, both for Hostess and Salada Foods, which had a chip plant in Alliston.

II: Overseas experience
Peter completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Vegetable Crops from Cornell University in 1972, and then left for two years of volunteer service in Bangladesh with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee. Although he was not—at first—interested in going overseas, he became convicted by God’s spirit to help others—namely Bangladeshi farmers. As a result, Peter focused on improving the potato production of Bangladeshi farmers. That was a challenge, but it was also a very rewarding experience. His Uncle Date visited from Holland and became his expert advisor through correspondence.

Carla, a daughter of Baptist Missionaries, met Peter in Bangladesh. They got married in 1975, after Carla’s graduation from Baylor University and Peter’s volunteer term. They proceeded to Hawaii to pursue graduate degrees: Carla in Early Childhood Education, and Peter in Tropical Agronomy.

In 1979, Peter and Carla joined the International Potato Centre (CIP). Their first assignment was in Rwanda, Africa, to develop national potato programs there and in Burundi, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Uganda. It was rewarding work that nurtured new friendships.

From 1982 to mid-1991, Peter and Carla worked for CIP in South-east Asia based in the Philippines. Countries like China and Vietnam were ready to improve their potato production, which was a great opportunity for us to contribute our knowledge. We helped to introduce new varieties, to improve crop management and to train young scientists in short-term, specialized training and at the graduate degree level.

III: Welcoming SunRISE
In 1990, we decided to return to Canada and start our own potato farm, near Peter’s Dad, his brother, Uncle Harry and cousins. It was time for Peter to practice what he preached. Both Peter and Carla pictured the farm as a place where children could be involved. Among our initial challenges were finding land, setting up financing, and securing a market for the crop.

We were fortunate on all fronts, thanks to a supportive bank manager, chipping potato contracts and a high school friend with equipment. We called the farm SunRISE, which, in the Orient, symbolizes hope!

In the early years, we grew about 300 acres of chipping potatoes annually, which we gradually increased to over 500 acres ten years later (read this for more information on managing multi-generational family farming). In 2010, with the full involvement of daughter Ruth and her husband, Nick, we now grow 1000 acres of potatoes each year.

Our Production Practices

I: Conventional chipping potatoes.
These are grown on sandy loam or silt loam soils, normally with a two-year rotation. The alternate rotation crop is usually corn, wheat or rye, depending on the soil type and harvest date for the potatoes.

All our potato acreage receives a healthy application of beef cattle or swine manure. This supplies most of the fertility requirements for the potato crop. Some varieties need a side-dressing of inorganic nitrogen. Sometimes, a light dose of potassium is added. When we obtain a new farm, we first ensure that the pH and calcium levels are adequate through an application of lime. All soil amendments are determined after taking extensive soil samples (every 1-4 acres) which are analyzed in a lab. GPS tracking records the location of each sample as it’s obtained. Based on these results, we can create detailed maps of the soil health of each field. The maps allow us to apply the extra nutrients at specific, variable rates.

A day prior to planting, we prepare our seed potatoes by cutting them into appropriately sized seed pieces that are treated with a fungicide and a systemic insecticide to help control insects during the first 80 days of the growing season. During the growing season, we have a three-pronged approach: we apply a pre-emergent herbicide to control weeds, we do a final hilling before the rows are full, and we spray a protectant fungicide as needed to control late blight (P. Infestans), as well as other fungal diseases.

We have irrigation for about 65% of our crop acres. The general rule is that the crop needs 25 mm of water per week from late June to late August. The irrigation will make up what is not received in rainfall.

Two to three weeks prior to the targeted harvest date, the vines are desiccated to allow the tuber skin to mature and become firm. When soil temperature are between 10o and 25o Celsius, the crop is harvested. This avoids the bruising and tuber damage which may occur at higher or lower temperatures.

II: Organic potatoes.
We grow our organic potatoes in more isolated fields than the conventional crop, with a six-year rotation that includes potatoes in years four and six. Alfalfa is grown in years one, two and three and spelt in year five. This rotation allows for Nitrogen to build up during the three Alfalfa years. Prior to both potato years, we apply composted manure to each field.

Generally, we plant the organic crop in late May to permit more rapid emergence in warmer soil. This helps us control the weeds with less effort. Later planting also avoids problems with Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) — normally a serious concern for organic potato farmers. We find that CPB tends to remain on the earliest emerging plants (nearby conventional fields). We control weeds by harrowing frequently, cultivating between rows regularly, hilling, and walking through each field with a hoe.

Insect control becomes more challenging by early August when the leaf hopper population increases sharply. Natural Pyrethroids are sprayed to control insects. Fish emulsion and the application of Copper and Zinc sprays control fungal diseases. With organic potatoes, we can encounter serious challenges due to insect damage and blight, which limit yields some years. The crop generally dies down naturally, but if not, we will chop off the tops to hasten maturity. The harvesting criterion for organic potatoes is similar to what was used for the conventional crop.

III: Seed production.
We utilize the provincial basic seed program for maintaining and multiplying our own varieties. These are then grown by several contracted farmers in other areas, depending on our needs. We may multiply the final generation on our farm if we need more seed. Generally, we plant Elite III or Elite IV seed for our commercial crop.

Potato Storage

I: Chipping potatoes.
Our potato storage was built in increments in 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2007. The total capacity today is about 400,000 cwt of potatoes. The stored potatoes do not touch any outside walls. With excellent insulation in the walls and ceiling, the potatoes themselves generate more than enough heat to prevent freezing, even when it is -30oC outside.

Our storage has 20 bins ranging from 12,000 cwt to 25,000 cwt in capacity. Each bin has automatically controlled ventilation, humidification and temperature control. Some bins also automatically flush out high levels of CO2.
Storage temperatures need to be between 8o and 12oC. If sucrose and glucose levels in the tubers are high, we maintain higher temperatures. Once sucrose and glucose levels are low enough to create the ideal white potato chip, we will lower the temperature to 8oC for long term storage. We often store potatoes from September harvest to July of the following year.

II: Organic chip potatoes.
These are stored in the same facility, although we keep them in one or two individual bins. We utilize long dormancy varieties to delay sprouting as we normally store the potatoes until June of the following year. Typically, we keep the temperature at 10oC until mid-December. If the chip colour is good, we will lower temperatures to 7oC for three months. The chip colour will remain good with the varieties we utilize. We will warm up the potatoes two to three weeks prior to shipping. If necessary, we will fog them with clove oil to burn the sprout tips, helping keep the tubers firm.

III: Seed and table potatoes.
After harvest, we store the potatoes at between 12-15oC for two weeks. After they are cured, the temperature is lowered to 4oC. It is held there until April or May, when we warm them up and generally complete the marketing of the table potatoes.

Shipping

Shipping chip potatoes. During the storage period, samples are taken from each bin on a periodic basis. These are sliced and fried at 350oC to check the chip quality. From the chip’s colour, we can tell whether the sucrose and glucose levels are too high. Dark chips indicate high sugar levels, which we can burn off through temperature manipulation. Once the bin samples fry white, the bin is deemed ready for shipping or the temperature is lowered to 8oC for holding until the purchaser wants the potatoes.

Just before shipping, all the potatoes are flumed (washed) to a grading area, where we sort them and remove those with physically observable defects (green, scab, or rotten). The remaining ones are loaded onto tractor trailers for delivery to the designated chips plants in Canada or the North-east United States. The chip plants will send us a report on the chipping quality of each load. If defective chips exceed 15%, the load will be rejected. The challenge, therefore, is to sample enough potatoes to accurately reflect what is being shipped to each chipping plant, and avoid the issue of having a load returned.