CSS Farms
CSS Farms is a privately held, vertically integrated agricultural company operating 17 farms across 10 U.S. states, producing chip potatoes for snack-food processors, disease-free seed potatoes for commercial growers, and specialty potatoes under the Tasteful Selections brand for grocery retailers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersKearney, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CSS Farms does
CSS Farms is a privately held, vertically integrated agricultural company founded in 1986 by the Carter and Spevak families in Watertown, South Dakota, and now headquartered in Kearney, Nebraska. The company operates 17 farms across 10 U.S. states, producing chip potatoes for snack-food processors, disease-free seed potatoes for commercial growers and breeding programs, and specialty bite-sized potatoes marketed under the Tasteful Selections brand (a joint venture with RPE and Plover River Farms). Additional revenue comes from rotational crops including wheat, carrots, watermelons, corn, sorghum, rye, and garlic grown in California's San Joaquin Valley and other locations.
The company's production platform combines a state-of-the-art greenhouse and tissue culture laboratory producing millions of disease-free minitubers annually, isolated seed farms for early- and late-generation seed multiplication, and commercial chip potato farms supported by climate-controlled cold storage facilities (notably 1.6 million cwt at Dalhart, Texas and 800,000 cwt at Minden, Nebraska) that enable 10-12 month shipping windows and year-round processor supply. Precision irrigation, including drip systems, and dedicated field-versus-storage crop management protocols underpin the agronomic operations. The company manages 100+ public and proprietary potato varieties across all segments.
CSS Farms makes money through B2B sales to three primary segments: regional chipping processors (long-term direct contracts across multiple states), commercial seed growers and university/private breeding programs (disease-free seed supply with programmatic supply chain solutions), and grocery retailers (Tasteful Selections branded and private-label specialty potatoes distributed to over 15,000 retail outlets across all 50 states). Sales are conducted through direct enterprise relationships rather than broad digital channels, and the company has begun extending its model internationally through a 2026 partnership with the Abia State Government in Nigeria.
CSS Farms firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CSS Farms
- Legal name
- CSS Farms, LLC
- Website
- https://cssfarms.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- CSS Farms is a privately held, vertically integrated agricultural company operating 17 farms across 10 U.S. states, producing chip potatoes for snack-food processors, disease-free seed potatoes for commercial growers, and specialty potatoes under the Tasteful Selections brand for grocery retailers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CSS Farms industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Potato Production and Agricultural Products
- NAICS
- Potato Farming (111211)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Seed & Flavoring Crop Farming (Vanilla, Sesame, Mustard) (AFAGAGAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming (Indoor LED Farms) (AFAGAHAJ)
Keywords
Where CSS Farms is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kearney
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices17 records
Markets served
CSS Farms business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Seed Potatoes: Vertically integrated seed supply chain providing disease-free seed potatoes to commercial growers. Includes proprietary varieties, programmatic supply chain solutions, and speed to market advantages. CSS Farms manages 100+ public and proprietary varieties.
- Chip Potatoes: Reliable and high-quality chip potato supply to processing facilities. Long-term relationships with regional chipping processors across the country. Over three decades of growth in the industry.
- Specialty Potatoes: Tasteful Selections branded products including baby/bite-sized colorful potatoes distributed to over 15,000 retail outlets across all 50 states. Also includes private label packaging.
- Other Crops: Diversified crop production including rotational grains (corn, sorghum, wheat, rye), carrots, watermelons, and garlic grown in rotation with potatoes in the San Joaquin Valley.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
CSS Farms product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CSS Farms is a vertically integrated agricultural company that cultivates and supplies chip potatoes, seed potatoes, specialty potatoes (including the Tasteful Selections brand), and rotational crops such as wheat, carrots, watermelons, corn, and garlic. The company operates 17 farms across 10 U.S. states, serving regional chipping processors, commercial seed growers, research institutions, and retail grocery outlets.
Product overview
CSS Farms is a multi-state vertically integrated agricultural business operating as a unified platform with distinct product segments. The company offers three core product lines: Seed Potatoes (integrated seed solution with greenhouse minituber production and isolated seed farms), Chip Potatoes (supplying processors with reliable chipping potatoes with extensive storage capability), and Specialty Potatoes (including the Tasteful Selections sub-brand for bite-sized, colorful potatoes). Additionally, the company grows rotational crops including wheat, carrots, watermelons, corn, and garlic. As of 2023, CSS Farms operates 17 farms across 10 states serving seed customers, research institutions, processing facilities, and consumers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tasteful Selections: Partnership brand for bite-sized, colorful specialty potatoes found in local grocery stores as branded products and private label packaging, distributed to all 50 states and over 15,000 outlets.
Products and services
- Seed Potatoes Integrated seed solution focused on stewardship, quality, and speed to market. Produces disease-free minitubers in advanced greenhouse facilities and multiplies high-quality seed at isolated seed farms for commercial potato growers.
- Chip Potatoes Reliable and high-quality supply of chip potatoes for regional chipping processors. CSS Farms has grown to be one of the premier chip suppliers in the country with extensive storage capability and geographic diversity.
- Tasteful Selections Specialty Potatoes Bite-sized, colorful specialty potatoes brand grown in partnership with RPE and Plover River Farms. Available in local grocery stores and distributed to all 50 states through over 15,000 retail outlets, including branded and private label packaging.
- Other Crops Diversified crop production including rotational grains (corn, sorghum, wheat, rye) and rotational fruits and vegetables (carrots, watermelon, garlic) grown to support soil health and sustainability in rotation with potatoes.
Quantifiable outcome
- One of the top chip potato producers in the country with significant storage capability
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CSS Farms
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CSS Farms technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
CSS Farms partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tasteful Selections (RPE and Plover River Farms partnership)coreStrategic partnership formed in 2010 with RPE and Plover River Farms to create Tasteful Selections, which has become a market leader in the specialty potato category. The partnership focuses on bite-sized, colorful baby potatoes for the dinner plate market.
- Bob BenderminorBob Bender partnered with CSS Farms in 1993 for the first venture out of South Dakota, expanding operations in Nebraska to better serve chip customers and further expand the company's presence.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CSS Farms competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sun-Glo of Idaho: Idaho-based potato processor and grower specializing in dehydrated and specialty potato products. Comparable to CSS Farms in raw potato sourcing and processor customer base.
- Plover River Farms: Specialty potato grower and the third joint venture partner in Tasteful Selections with CSS Farms and RPE. Closely aligned in product mix (specialty potatoes) and customer base.
- Wada Farms: Idaho-based potato grower producing chip, seed, and fresh potatoes across multiple states. Comparable scale and product mix to CSS Farms with similar processor customer relationships.
- Black Gold Farms: Multi-state potato grower with operations across the US producing chip, seed, and table-stock potatoes. Directly comparable in scale, vertical integration, and customer base to CSS Farms.
- Heartland Farms: Wisconsin-based potato grower producing chip, seed, and fresh potatoes for major processors. Similar geographic scope and customer profile to CSS Farms.
- RPE: Potato grower and joint venture partner with CSS Farms in Tasteful Selections since 2010. Operates in similar geographies with comparable chip and specialty potato production, making it a closely aligned peer.
- Idaho Pacific Corporation: Potato processor producing dehydrated potato products with vertically integrated growing operations. Comparable to CSS Farms' vertically integrated chip potato model.
Broad incumbents
- J.R. Simplot Company: Agricultural conglomerate with vertically integrated potato operations including processing and food service. Broadly comparable as a competitor and partner across the potato value chain.
- Lamb Weston: Largest North American frozen potato processor and a major customer for chip-stock potatoes. Operates across the broader potato value chain with global scale; comparable as a counterpart in the supply ecosystem.
- McCain Foods: Global frozen potato processor with vertically integrated growing operations. Sits at the same value chain node as a customer of CSS Farms and a competitor in raw potato sourcing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CSS Farms social profiles
Digital presenceCSS Farms financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CSS Farms leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
CSS Farms subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CSS Farms funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CSS Farms M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CSS Farms
What does CSS Farms do?
CSS Farms is a vertically integrated agricultural company that cultivates and supplies chip potatoes, seed potatoes, specialty potatoes (including the Tasteful Selections brand), and rotational crops such as wheat, carrots, watermelons, corn, and garlic. The company operates 17 farms across 10 U.S. states, serving regional chipping processors, commercial seed growers, research institutions, and retail grocery outlets.
Is CSS Farms a public or private company?
CSS Farms is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was CSS Farms founded?
CSS Farms was founded in 1986. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is CSS Farms based?
CSS Farms is headquartered in Kearney, United States, in the North America region.
How does CSS Farms make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Seed Potatoes are the primary driver. The others are chip Potatoes, specialty Potatoes and other Crops.
Who are CSS Farms's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sun-Glo of Idaho, Plover River Farms, Wada Farms, Black Gold Farms, Heartland Farms, RPE and Idaho Pacific Corporation. Broad incumbents are J.R. Simplot Company, Lamb Weston and McCain Foods.
Does CSS Farms have an API?
No public API is recorded for CSS Farms.
What industry is CSS Farms in?
CSS Farms's product category is Potato Production and Agricultural Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAGAN, Specialty Seed & Flavoring Crop Farming (Vanilla, Sesame, Mustard), with a secondary code of AFAGAHAJ, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming (Indoor LED Farms). Its NAICS code is 111211 and its SIC code is 100.