National Fry Processors Trial

The National Fry Processors Trial (NFPT) facilitated the identification, evaluation, and commercialization of enhanced russet potato varieties for the fry industry. Launched in 2011, NFPT brings together russet breeders, state grower associations, and potato processing companies to create enhanced russet varieties that meet consumer expectations for fries. This program has helped to:

• Shorten the timeline for breeding new varieties for the fry industry.
• Promote a collaborative discussion on candidates of merit, taking into account agronomic, processor, and breeder insights.
• Bring national scale to trialing, with six trial sites located from coast to coast.

A Tiered Approach

NFPT uses a structured, three-tiered trailing system to streamline the development and evaluation process:

• In Tier One, a clone is evaluated for agronomic traits.
• In Tier Two, a clone undergoes the second year of field testing while also undergoing initial post-harvest analysis.
• In Tier Three, a clone’s third and final year in the program, it undergoes agronomic testing, post-harvest analysis, and processor evaluation for viability as a finished product.

From Trials to Commercial Availability

Since its inception, NFPT has successfully graduated nine russet varieties for commercial use:

• Clearwater Russet
• Dakota Russet
• Caribou Russet
• Lakeview Russet
• Teton Russet
• Mountain Gem Russet
• Reveille Russet
• Hamlin Russet
• Galena Russet