Press Release

Introducing the Organic Klamath Pearl: A special potato from a special place From the high desert of California and Oregon’s Klamath Basin comes a very special potato.

The Organic Klamath Pearl hits the market for the first time this fall (2003). The round, thin-skinned potato is known in Europe as a salad potato and is prized for its mild, sweet flavor and firm texture. Great in salads, the Organic Klamath Pearl is also well suited to roasting, grilling and frying because of its balance of waxy and starchy qualities.

Unlike other small potatoes on the market, the Organic Klamath Pearl is harvested young, making it more tender and delicate than other potatoes. Early harvesting means the potato requires less water and is less susceptible to pests and diseases, important considerations in a sensitive habitat like Klamath Basin, a major stop for a myriad of birds on the Pacific flyway. Each winter, the nearby Lower Klamath Lake National Wildlife Refuge hosts the largest bald eagle population in the lower forty-eight states as well as tens of thousands of other birds. Chefs and food lovers have long known the Klamath Basin as preeminent potato country. With the northeastern face of Mt. Shasta visible to the south and Crater Lake to the north, the area sits at an arid 4,000 feet. The short growing season produces warm days and cool nights, perfect potato conditions. The rich sandy and loamy soils are the result of organic matter deposited from prehistoric Lake Modoc (Tulelake) and valuable minerals from the ash of volcanic Mt. Mazama (Crater Lake).

Not only are the Organic Klamath Pearl and where it’s grown special, but also so are the people who grow them. Family farmers who have been growing potatoes in the Klamath Basin for generations have banded together to form Klamath Basin Fresh Direct. Producing a premium product while enhancing the environmental and economic stability of the rural Klamath Basin is their core mission. This consortium of growers can meet the demands of large buyers while maintaining the personal service that comes from small family farms.

“This is a community project”, said Dan Chin, Chairman of Klamath Basin Fresh Direct. “We’re going to work together.”

Because the farmers live in an area revered for its world-class soils and wildlife, they’re committed to harvesting the Organic Klamath Pearl and living in harmony with the environment. “We live in this environment and plan to take care of it”, said Chin.