The foundational ingredient in some of America’s favorite dishes has been around long before any of us. Potatoes, grown in Pennsylvania and roughly 30 other states, are a pillar in the country’s agriculture industry, economy and nutrition, according to a report by Haley O’Brien | WVIA News

The Pennsylvania Co-operative Potato Growers offered an informative perspective at the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Nathan Tallman is CEO of the Pennsylvania Co-operative Potato Growers, a nonprofit that connects potato growers with buyers.

“We have a very rich history in Pennsylvania growing potatoes,” said Tallman, who comes from a family of potato growers.

With hundreds of varieties now grown in Pa. and thousands of recipes using spuds, Tallman said the industry has evolved thanks to technology and with consumers in mind.

“Equipment is changing all the time. Growers used to work with two-row equipment. Now they’re up to 16-row equipment,” he explained. “But we’re always looking for new varieties and better yielding varieties. That’s what growers want.”

Source: WVIA. Full story and a video here
Image: The Pennsylvania Co-operative Potato Growers sell potato donuts at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Credit Pennsylvania Co-operative Potato Growers via WVIA