Tyler Mitchell, a third-generation potato grower in Colorado's San Luis Valley, is navigating a tough combination of persistent drought and depressed market prices. The Mitchell family has farmed the valley for more than 80 years and continues to adapt operations to meet both environmental and economic pressure.
The San Luis Valley is one of the major fresh potato-producing regions in the U.S., and drought stress there is a recurring but intensifying challenge. Lower prices add financial strain on top of higher input costs for water management, painting a difficult picture for growers trying to stay viable in a changing climate.
This is part of a broader pattern of specialty crop producers under pressure across the country — worth watching as a barometer for fresh potato supply reliability out of Colorado heading into the fall season.