Potato growers gathered at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center to learn about new potato varieties being developed by HAREC. The center’s director, Carlos Bonilla, said the annual field days bring together industry professionals, students, and community members to experience their research firsthand.
One of the main challenges is creating disease-resistant potatoes, which requires a combination of traditional cross-breeding and advanced molecular marker-assisted selection. Researchers aim to develop varieties that naturally resist diseases like Potato Virus Y and Verticillium wilt without relying on pesticides.
It takes around 12-13 years to develop and release a new potato variety. Sagar Sathuvallie, a HAREC professor, presented several varieties, including the Canyon Creek Russet, Vantage Russet, Espresso Russet, Big Bud, and Purple Indigo.
The Canyon Creek Russet is known for its good russeting, large tubers, and resistance to PVY. However, it’s also susceptible to late blight and Fusarium dry rot. The Vantage Russet has high yields but is highly susceptible to many pathogens. The Espresso Russet resists several diseases but can suffer from hollow heart in other areas.
New varieties like the Big Bud and Purple Indigo offer high yields and early maturity, making them suitable for chips and fries. Sathuvallie emphasized the importance of long-term collaboration with growers to fine-tune these new varieties.
Source: https://eastoregonian.com/2026/06/24/growers-get-insights-to-new-potato-varieties-at-field-day-in-hermiston