May/June 2022 - 29

of on-farm data for over 14,000 acres
of Agri Northwest's potato fields. He
analyzed that data for trends in potato
yield and quality across all kinds of
input parameters. He also got to use
Dr. RE Thornton's Potato Harvester
and Harvest Equipment Anti-Bruise
publications and information to refine
and test the recommendations on 36
harvesters and storage equipment each
year over the 18 harvest seasons.
While at Agri Northwest, he joined
PAA. He remained an active member of
the PAA's Plant Physiology section until
he left Agri Northwest in 1998. During
those years, he served as a director in
the Plant Physiology section, as well
as an invited Journal Reviewer for the
PAA annual meeting
July 17-21
Missoula, Montana
amr.swoogo.com/PAA2022
American Potato Journal for three years.
In 1995, he gave one of the opening
speeches to the PAA annual symposium
hosted by the Plant Physiology section.
In 1998, he became the northwest
regional agronomist for the RD Offutt
Company covering Washington,
Oregon and Nevada.
After two years, he realized that
it would be more satisfying to work
with people rather than for people.
Fortunately, RDO agreed and Thornton
Consulting Inc. was started. In the
20 years since, he has been fortunate
enough to work with growers all over
the U.S. and several other countries
to give input as to how to grow a
wide range of potato varieties in the
fresh, chip, fry and seed industries.
Thornton and family members travel
throughout the country during potato
harvest season to help growers and
other potato organizations improve
potato bruise by " timing harvesters
and harvest equipment. "
He looks forward to once again
becoming an active member of the
Certified Organic
Seed Potatoes
Certified Organic Pre-Nuclear Seed Potatoes
Double Certified through the Conventional Seed
Potato Program and the Organic Certification
Program; MN Dept of Agriculture and Oregon Tilth.
Selling quality seed potatoes for over 35 years
www.potatoseed.com
Sales: Sandi Aarestad
Cell: 701-430-1329 email: sandi@potatoseed.com
RED:
Bison
Chieftain
Ciklamen
Dakota Rose
Modoc
Monte Carlo
Negra Ojosa
ND113207-1R
NY Red La Soda
Red Magic
Red Norland
Red Norland (Dark)
Red Pontiac
Red Prairie
Rose Valley
Sangre
W8893-1R
WHITE:
Atlantic
Cal White
Cascade
Dakota Pearl
Early Valley
Go Gu Valley
Kennebec
Lady Liberty
Lamoka
Lelah
Mackinaw
Manistee
Shepody
Taebok Valley
Waneta
YELLOW:
Agate
Alegria
Anuschka
Barcelona
Belle de Fontenay
Belmonda
Buffalo
Dore
Gui Valley
Milva
Morning Gold
Natascha
ND1241-1Y
ND7799C-1
Paroli
Prada
Satina
Sieglinde
Sinatra
Soraya
Stick Valley
Verdi
Voyager
Yukon Gold
RUSSET:
Bannock Russet
Blazer Russet
Classic Russet
Clearwater Russet
Dakota Russet
Dakota Trailblazer
King Russet
Mercury Russet
MN13142-32
NOVELTY:
Amarosa
ATND99331-2Pinto Y
Austrian Crescent
Bergerac
Bora Valley
Bordeaux
California Gold
Caribe
Criolla #5
French Fingerling
Huckleberry Gold
King Edward
MN07112WB
Peter Wilcox
Purple Majesty
Purple Pelisse
Purple Valley
Red Thumb
Russian Banana
Skagit Valley Gold
Smilin' Eyes
PAA upon retirement, or as he likes
to say, " when I choose to slow down. "
Hopefully in the near future, he will run
into some of his friends and colleagues
from the potato industry he loves so
much, probably in an airport.
In
recognition of his
exceptional
service to the PAA and his many
research accomplishments, the PAA is
pleased to designate Robert Thornton
as an Honorary Life Member of the
association.
Words of Wisdom from Thornton:
" Enjoy your time spent at a job in this
great industry, for far too soon you will
be looking back at your career as others
tell you it's time to move on! "
PAA annual meeting for 2022
The 2022 PAA annual meeting will
be held in Missoula, Montana, on July
17-21. It will be an exciting time for the
industry and a chance to reconnect the
potato research community. There will
also be the presentation of new HLMs.
Registration is open at amr.swoogo.
com/PAA2022.
Norkotah #3
Norkotah TX278
Norkotah TX296
Ranger Russet
Reveille Russet
Russet Burbank
Silverton Russet
Teton Russet
Umatilla Russet
Spudman * May/June 2022
29
http://amr.swoogo.com/PAA2022 http://www.potatoseed.com
May/June 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May/June 2022
