NoKota Packers, Inc.

10/20/2026

🥔✈️ ROOTED HERE. REACHING FAR. — NOKOTA TAKES ON ORLANDO!

From the potato fields of the Red River Valley to the trade show floor in Orlando, Florida…our spuds have been getting a little national attention! 🌎🥔

Carissa spent time at the 2026 IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show last week, one of the fresh produce industry’s biggest gatherings, connecting with industry partners, sharing ideas, and helping spread the word about the potatoes we’re so proud to grow, pack, and ship!

And she had some pretty great company along the way!

🌱 NORTHLAND POTATO GROWERS ASSOCIATION

The Northland Potato Growers represents potato growers and shippers throughout North Dakota and Minnesota, helping promote the quality and versatility of potatoes grown right here in our region.

Their booth was all about showcasing what makes Red River Valley potatoes special — from our rich growing soils to the delicious possibilities that come from a simple spud!

🥔 AND SPEAKING OF DELICIOUS…

One of the big hits at the Northland booth was a High-Protein Dill Pickle Potato Salad, made with RED potatoes!

Yes, you read that right. DILL PICKLE POTATO SALAD! 😋

The samples were a crowd favorite, proving once again that potatoes are anything but boring!

And because we wouldn’t want to keep something that delicious to ourselves, we’re sharing the recipe in our photos. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

🤝 FRESH SOLUTIONS NETWORK

Carissa also spent time at the fresh_solutions_network booth, alongside fellow family-owned potato and onion companies from across the country.

NoKota is proud to be part of this network, which works together to bring quality potatoes and innovative products, including the Side Delights® brand, to consumers nationwide.

Different farms. Different communities. One shared passion for bringing great potatoes to the table!

❤️ GOOD PEOPLE. GREAT CONNECTIONS.

And of course, some of the best moments happen AFTER the trade show floor closes!

A dinner with some of our Fresh Solutions Network partners was another opportunity to catch up, share a few laughs, and enjoy the friendships that have grown through working together.

Because at the end of the day, this industry is about more than potatoes. It’s about PEOPLE, partnerships, and the relationships that connect us.

🌎 FROM OUR FIELDS TO YOUR TABLES…AND BEYOND!

We’re proud to call the Red River Valley home, proud of the growers who raise our potatoes, and grateful for the organizations and partnerships that help share our story far beyond North Dakota.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped make IFPA 2026 such a great experience!

Rooted Here. Reaching Far. ❤️🥔

10/19/2026

🥔 ROOTED IN TRADITION. GROWING THROUGH INNOVATION.

A lot has changed in the Red River Valley potato industry over the years…and we're proud to be part of that story! ❤️

NoKota Packers is featured in a new article from The Packer highlighting how Red River Valley potato packers are embracing technology, automation, and innovation to meet the challenges of an evolving industry.

Since our beginning in 1979, NoKota has grown from shipping approximately 220,000 hundredweight of potatoes in our first season to more than 600,000 hundredweight annually today!

Along the way, we've invested in our storage facilities, washing and grading equipment, packaging lines, and automation.

But here's what matters most to us…

Sure, technology helps us do our jobs better...but our PEOPLE are what make NoKota who we are. ❤️

Automation helps reduce physically demanding, repetitive work, improve efficiency, and allow our team to focus their skills and experience where they make the greatest difference.

And while our equipment and industry continue to evolve, our commitment to our growers, our employees, our customers, and the Red River Valley remains the same.

We're proud to be featured alongside other Red River Valley potato businesses working to move our industry forward.

A special thank you to **The Packer** and Tom Burfield for sharing our story!

👇 Read the article to learn more about how the Red River Valley potato industry is growing and changing.

**Rooted in the Valley. Committed to Quality.**

Leading potato packers across North Dakota’s Red River Valley are leveraging optical sorters, robotic palletizers, and upgraded climate-controlled storage to maintain high product standards, offset industry consolidation and capitalize on growing consumer demand for yellow varieties.

10/19/2026

🥔 TATER NUTRITION TIDBIT | More Than a Carb

“Potatoes are just carbs.”
We hear that one a lot.

Yes, potatoes contain carbohydrates — an important source of energy for the body.
But that's hardly where the story ends.

Potatoes also provide nutrients including potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B6, along with dietary fiber.

So the next time someone calls a potato “just a carb”...
You know there's a little more beneath that skin. 🥔

10/18/2026

🥔🎉 LET’S GET SMASHED!

Happy National Mashed Potato Day!

Red or yellow, creamy or chunky, loaded with butter or swimming in gravy…we LOVE them all! ❤️

👇 Tell us your favorite way to enjoy mashed potatoes!

Keep it simple. Keep it spuds.

10/16/2026

🥔 FUN FACT FRIDAY | They're Still Alive!

Here's one that surprises a lot of people:
A potato is still alive after it's harvested.

Potatoes continue to respire — using oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide, heat and moisture.

That's one reason potato storage involves much more than putting the crop in a cool, dark building.

Temperature. Humidity. Airflow. Fresh air.
They all matter.

That potato may look like it's just sitting there...
but there's a lot going on beneath the skin. 🥔

10/16/2026

Carissa also spent time at the Fresh Solutions Network, LLC booth while in Orlando! This group of growers and partners is a special mix and we are so happy to be a part of this group!

10/15/2026

Carissa is in Orlando this week, showing off our spuds at IFPA with Northland Potato Growers!

10/15/2026

🥔🗳️ TATER TALLY — MAKE YOUR MARK!

A little friendly competition has officially made its way into the NoKota plant! 😄

We kicked off something new last week called TATER TALLY, a weekly question posted on our employee whiteboard where everyone can cast their vote throughout the week.

No complicated rules. No right or wrong answers. Just a little fun, some friendly debates, and a chance to see where our crew stands on life’s REALLY important questions! 😂

Our very first question:

🍕 If you could only eat ONE of these for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

🍕 Pizza
🍔 Burgers
🌮 Tacos
🍝 Pasta

The votes are in, and BURGERS take the first Tater Tally victory! 🏆

Apparently, we’ve got a crew that loves a good burger!

It’s a small thing, but we’re always looking for ways to bring a little more connection, conversation, and fun into our workdays.

And now we’re bringing the fun to YOU!

👇 What would YOUR vote have been? Are you Team Pizza, Burgers, Tacos, or Pasta?

Drop your pick in the comments. We want to see if our Facebook followers agree with the NoKota crew!

Tater Tally — Make Your Mark! 🥔

10/14/2026

🥔 BEHIND THE SPUDS | What Happens After Harvest?

The potatoes are out of the ground and safely inside storage.
Now what?

We don't simply turn the temperature down and walk away.

Freshly harvested potatoes first go through an important curing period, also called suberization.

Harvest naturally leaves potatoes with small cuts, scrapes and bruises. Under the right conditions, potatoes can develop protective tissue over many of those minor wounds.

Pretty amazing for something that's already been harvested, isn't it?

During this period, we carefully manage storage conditions and gradually cool the crop as it prepares for longer-term storage.

Why so much attention?
Because potatoes are still living organisms after harvest.

How they're handled during these first days and weeks can affect their quality for months to come.

Harvest may be ending. Caring for the crop certainly isn't.

That's what's happening Behind the Spuds.