Growing More Than Potatoes

WASHINGTON AGRICULTURE is only as successful as its dedicated farmers and their families who strive to improve their practices, feed the community, and raise the next generation of agriculturalists. Farmers like Jordan and Mia Reed of JM Farms in Pasco, Wash., are great examples of such farmers. Jordan, a second-generation farmer, admits that he was born to farm and would tag along with his dad to the field as often as he could as a kid. He says, “It didn’t matter what, I was going. He wasn’t leaving me behind.”

“I love the dirt,” Jordan shares. He and his wife are sharing that passion for potatoes with their children. The Reeds are raising three young farmers who will eventually make their own contributions to the farm. Reed’s son says, “I like working with my dad.” When asked what the kids don’t like about living on the farm, their only answer was, “There’s nothing I don’t like about it!” The family’s love of the land runs deep and will continue to fuel their work to grow the perfect potato.

JM Farms produces potatoes for direct delivery to processors in the Tri-Cities area, which are then made into hash browns, French fries and other potato delights. JM Farms' potatoes are high quality and fresh, never stored for long periods of time before being processed. This means it’s imperative that the Reeds keep their fields free of pests and diseases to meet the demand of the local processing facilities. Processors put in orders for a certain number of semi truck loads the day before, expecting them to be delivered to the plant by the next day. Those potatoes are turned into fries and hash browns within 12 hours of being delivered. Shortly after that, consumers like you are enjoying those potato products at a local diner or fast food restaurant.

“I love to be able to raise a crop that I can walk into a restaurant and say, ‘Hey, there’s a good chance we raised that,’” says Jordan. It’s this connection to the land, the crop and the final product that makes farming families so special. The Reeds are sharing important knowledge with their kids, and it’s trickling down to the next generation of consumers, too. One of the Reeds' daughters jokes that her friends even recognize the connection between her family and the delicious fries they enjoy at McDonald's.

Washington is known for producing some of the best potatoes you can find. The state's infrastructure, natural resources and topography have created a perfect environment to produce
the perfect potato. However, it takes a farmer who is willing to do the work to facilitate that process. JM Farms is one of many family farms in Washington that are raising the next generation of agriculturalists, instilling a passion and respect for the land and building a deep connection to the food they produce and eat. Washington's agriculture wouldn’t be what it is without families like the Reeds.

Their love for the dirt runs deep. It's not just about growing potatoes for the Reeds; it's about the connection they have with the land, the crop and the final product. They are passing on that passion to the next generation of farmers. Their dedication and hard work ensure that the potatoes on our plates are of the highest quality and freshness. JM Farms is a prime example of the many family farms in Washington that are keeping the tradition of family farming alive and well, ensuring that the future of agriculture is bright.