A new publication on "Storage Management of Alturas Potatoes" is available through University of Idaho Educational Communications.

Written by Tina Brandt, Nora Olsen and Gale Kleinkopf of the University of Idaho and Rich Novy of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the four-page publication describes the storage characteristics of Alturas as revealed through a three-year study at the UI Kimberly Research and Extension Center's Potato Storage Research Facility.

Alturas-released in 2002 by the USDA-ARS and the agricultural experiment stations of Idaho, Oregon and Washington-is a late-maturing and high-yielding potato that produces russeted tubers with high specific gravity. It was originally selected for dehydration processing but has characteristics that make it useable in frozen processing and freshpack markets.

Depending on storage temperature, Alturas breaks dormancy between 55 and 75 days earlier than Russet Burbank. The publication includes specific management recommendations regarding curing conditions, storing conditions, sprout inhibition and storage duration.

It can be downloaded for free from the UI Educational Communications Web site at www.info.ag.uidaho.edu,  Catalog, CALS Publishing Catalog, New Releases in 2006.

Alternatively, single copies can be purchased for $3.50 plus shipping, handling and sales tax by calling (208) 885-7982 or writing calspubs@uidaho.edu.