The Indians themselves probably consummated the first commercial sale of Idaho-grown potatoes when they found that hungry immigrants traveling in the wagon trains would trade clothing and other goods that the Indians wanted for fresh potatoes.

Although Spalding succeeded to some extent as a farmer, the missionary work proved to be before its time. Discontent developed among the Indians which resulted in the historic Whitman massacre. The Spaldings were forced to leave Lapwai in 1850, and so ended the first chapter on potato growing in Idaho.