Growing Together: Les Alderete

Les Alderete has spent more than 25 years in the potato industry. A California native, he holds an agricultural business degree from Fresno State. He worked in the citrus industry locally before moving to Idaho to join Potandon Produce, also known as Green Giant Fresh.

“It was a roundabout route to joining the potato industry,” he said.

Les worked in grower relations for Potandon Produce and then marketing and grower relations for another company in Raleigh, North Carolina, before he moved to Colorado.

Les has served as the general manager at Skyline Potato Company, a fresh packing shed in Center, Colorado, since 2014. He’s responsible for pricing management, collaborating with growers, and ensuring the supply of fresh products for clients.

Skyline ships russet potatoes to major retailers across the Southwest, Midwest, and Southeast, and also provides custom packing for several marketing companies. In addition to conventional russets, the varieties they work with include Norkotahs, Reveilles, and Centennials.

“It’s a good industry to be in,” Les said. “It has its ups and downs, but all industries do.”

Les has shared his time and experience with Potatoes USA, serving six years on the board, including three on the Executive Committee.

“Once you get on the board, you see all that Potatoes USA does—not just for one area, but for the entire industry,” he said. “They bring a lot of value by keeping demand strong, researching new varieties, and advancing the culinary side. It’s a good organization and a real plus for all of us.”

One area where Les sees a big opportunity is in culinary medicine. It’s a growing field that brings together cooking, nutrition, and medical science to help people prevent or treat health conditions.

“That was all new to me,” Les said. “I never even thought about that until a couple of years ago. The opportunities on the medical end are a big deal. We need to keep getting the message out that potatoes are healthy.”

He added that sharing potatoes’ nutrition message will be even more important as weight loss medications grow more popular.

“If people are eating less, what you eat is going to matter even more,” he said.

When he’s not working, Les enjoys fishing, hunting, and being outdoors. Together, he and his wife Rima have six children. And while he appreciates potatoes in every form, his favorite is simple and homemade: wedge-cut fries with a sprinkle of parmesan.