Hearty crops thrive in the Midwest

Roots and tubers thrive in the Heartland’s rich soils.

Minnesota and Wisconsin harvest 10 percent of the nation’s potato acreage, and Wisconsin-based shippers continue adding new potato packs and varieties. Wisconsin also harvests 1,500 acres of onions, second in the Midwest to Michigan.

Another hidden gem in the Midwest is horseradish. The region is home to more than half of U.S.’s horseradish acreage with 1,500 or so acres in Illinois, right across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, according to the USDA.

“It’s big here because of the German ancestors that brought horseradish with them, and our good soil and climate,” says Dennis Diekemper, general manager for J.R. Kelly Company, Collinsville, IL.

While there are diehard fans who will always find their horseradish, others need a little prompting to enjoy its pungent properties in sauces and sides.

“We’re always trying to promote fresh horseradish to retailers,” Diekemper says, “alongside ginger root and other specialties.”

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This is an excerpt from the most recent Produce Blueprints quarterly journal. Click here to read the full article.