Potato harvest time

A tradition of superlative spuds

Ross Fleming drives his tractor alongside a truck in a russet potato field near Klamath Falls.

By JILL AHO
H&N Staff Writer

October 2, 2008

Dan Chin of Wong’s Potatoes has been in the business for more than 25 years. Debra Matthews has been running Tulelake Distributors for about 20 years. Ross Fleming’s family starting growing potatoes before he was born, so he counts himself at 47 years.

For these growers, there’s a certain satisfaction with growing the world’s best potato.

“The Klamath Basin potato is probably one of the most flavorful potatoes,” Matthews said. “You have to believe in your product and you have to believe in the family farms and what an impact it has on our community.” Chin, who is helping to carry on tradition in both his business and the farms around him, said he gets satisfaction from return business.

“It’s a family business, it’s not a corporate program,” he said. “I think the Klamath Basin really is small enough that it’ll always be a family type business.”

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