When it comes to potatoes, no other state offers the range and quality that Wisconsin does. Wisconsin is the nation's leading producer of vegetables and ranks third in potato production despite the state's diminutive size compared to the giant producers of the western desert. Wisconsin's vegetable agriculture is situated among the state's abundant forests and streams, and creates a mixed pattern of cultural and environmental settings. The source of Wisconsin's quality is this diverse environmental setting. The cool northern temperatures closely match the climate of the Peruvian Andes where the potato genetically began.
Cool temperatures benefit the growing plants and the conditions enhance a good harvest.
The potato benefits from Wisconsin's glacial soils whose rapid warm-up, low density and lack of organic residue mean less plant disease and vigorous growth. Wisconsin's potato production depends on the abundant underground aquifer to nurture the crop. The fragile relationship between water, soil and agriculture has generated an environmental awareness second to none. The proximity of Wisconsin to metropolitan centers in the Eastern and Southern United States is an essential part of Wisconsin's place in the industry. Wisconsin can reach these receivers overnight, assuring freshness.