Potato Broker Mashed

John Mark Reddish, a former Springdale City Council member, is going through a bankruptcy of his potato broker business.

Reddish lists assets of more than $687,000 and debts of more than $1 million in his Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Among his creditors are his parents, who loaned him $19,000 last year; potato farmers from across the country; and the Internal Revenue Service, which has filed a claim for $15,000.

– Four lawsuits also are pending against Reddish, all filed by potato farmers who claim Reddish refused to pay them for the potatoes he sold for them. The largest claim is from Sandyland Farms in Howard City, Mich., which alleges Reddish owes them more than $140,000. He also has pending a $19,230 property settlement with his ex-wife.

Reddish operated the potato brokerage business for six years under the name of Reddish Enterprises Inc. of Springdale. Last year, he reported earnings of $33,881. Currently, he claims a monthly income of $750 with $150 of that from boarding a horse on his land.

Reddish was a councilman in Springdale in 1995 and 1996. He lost his bid for re-election last year to Mike Nelson.