I met Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms at his storage facility, filled with Russet Burbank potatoes, in Warden, WA yesterday. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez.
WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms poses for a portrait in his farm’s storage facility, filled with Russet Burbank potatoes, on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: A worker watches Russet Burbank potatoes slide down while transferring them from one warehouse to another at a storage facility operated by local grower Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: Frank Martinez holds a Russet Burbank potato at his farm’s storage facility on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms watches machinery pile Russet Burbank potatoes in one of his storage facilities on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: Russet Burbank potatoes are seen in a storage facilities operated by Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: Russet Burbank potatoes move through machinery in a storage facility operated by Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: A worker removes unusable Russet Burbank potatoes as they are transferred into a storage facility operated by local grower Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: A worker watches Russet Burbank potatoes slide down while transferring them from one warehouse to another at a storage facility operated by local grower Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: Frank Martinez walks atop Russet Burbank potatoes at his farm’s storage facility while adjusting fans to prevent rot from worsening on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms walks atop Russet Burbank potatoes at his farm’s storage facility while adjusting fans to prevent rot from worsening on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms walks atop Russet Burbank potatoes at his farm’s storage facility while adjusting fans to prevent rot from worsening on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: A fan sits atop Russet Burbank potatoes to prevent rot in a lower section from worsening in a storage facility operated by Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: A worker watches Russet Burbank potatoes transfer into a storage facility operated by local grower Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: A stray Russet Burbank potato rests on a piece of machinery at a storage facility operated by local grower Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: Russet Burbank potatoes are transferred into a storage facility operated by Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: A worker watches Russet Burbank potatoes transfer into a storage facility operated by local grower Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)WARDEN, WA – MAY 01: Frank Martinez of Saddle View Farms looks at Russet Burbank potatoes in his farm’s storage facility on May 1, 2020 in Warden, Washington. Washington state is facing a surplus of potatoes as demand plummets during the coronavirus pandemic, which is hurting growers like Martinez. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
