ABOUT US
In 1976, Paul Wilkes and John Crawford formed a new company called Potato Services, with an ultimate goal to "increase the demand for Michigan potatoes and stabilize prices at a profitable level." Today, now in the 3rd generation of family ownership and direction, PSI maintains the same goals in the rapidly changing world of agriculture...
49
Years in Business
1
Vegetable Sold
15,000+
Potato Acres Marketed
OUR STORY
It All Began with a Vision
In 1976, a vision took root - to support and strengthen the Michigan potato industry. Paul Wilkes and John Crawford, two industry veterans with complementary backgrounds in Michigan's potato sector came together to form Potato Services.
Paul came from the "buy" side of the industry, while John brough experience from the farming, or "sell" side. Together, their unique partnership set out to market seed and processing potatoes, with a clear vision laid out in their founding letter to Michigan potato growers to "increase the demand for Michigan potatoes and stabilize prices at a profitable level."
In their first year, the company sold 25,000 hundredweight of potatoes. Encouraged by early success and the promise of a sustainable business model, Paul and John expanded the team 1977 by bringing on Paul's son, Tim Wilkes, a recent graduate of Michigan State University. That decision helped lay the groundwork for continued growth and lasting legacy in Michigan agriculture.
Changing with the Times
As the years went on, PSI's business model continued to evolve with the changing needs of the industry. In 1979, in partnership with several local growers, PSI launched Spud Pak - a potato packaging facility based in Edmore, Michigan -serving grocery retailers across the Eastern United States.
By the early 1980's, PSI had secured several major contracts with national food industry leaders, supply both table stock and chipping potatoes. True to the founding mission, the early contracts were fulfilled primarily through Michigan farms, continuing to drive demand for locally grown potatoes.
Nearly a decade later, the rising popularity of potato chips - combined with success of the newly developed chipping varieties - led to the rapid increase in Michigan potato production. As a key player in the state's potato supply chain, PSI responded by shifting focus more heavily toward the chipping potato market. At the same time, our supplier network expanded beyond Michigan, positioning PSI as a regional leader in the potato industry
Who We Are Today
Today, PSI continues to market potatoes to customers across North America, Central, and South America. We offer chipping potatoes, processing potatoes, table stock potatoes, and seed potatoes, along with new categories including specialized processing potatoes, exotics, and organics.
In 2022, PSI Logistics LLC was formed as an in-house logistics company to manage the freight needs of PSI as well as outside customers. While the primary focus is on moving produce across the United States, they are a full service 3PL handling freight of all kinds.
2023 brought the acquisition of Mrs. Dennis' Potato Company LLC. PSI returned to the packaged potato industry by partnering with a large russet producer in the Midwest. Mrs. Dennis markets all sizes of packaged potatoes to the retail, foodservice, and repacking markets.
