APRE receives additional funding for Potato Nutrition Research & Education

The Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE) today announced that it will receive additional funding from the United States Potato Board (USPB) to support nutrition science research and education on the white potato in all forms.

USPB, a founding member of APRE, will increase its funding to $1 million for each of the next two years to advance the not-for-profit organization's scientific research and education initiatives. APRE is 100% dedicated to expanding and translating research into sciencebased policy and education initiatives on the role of all forms of the potato – a nutritious vegetable – in a well-balanced diet.

"APRE is very pleased to receive the additional funding from USPB,"said Maureen Storey, PhD, APRE president and CEO. "This financial support provides the opportunity to increase APRE's scientific base, which is our foundation, as well as our education initiatives to help explain the important role of the white potato in all forms, whether baked, boiled, mashed, roasted or fried, in a healthy and balanced diet for all ages."

As the nation’s potato marketing organization and largest vegetable commodity board, USPB represents more than 1,600 potato growers and handlers across the country.

"The USPB and its potato grower leadership see the value of APRE and its mission to advance science-based data on the nutritive value of white potatoes in all forms,"said USPB president and CEO Tim O'Connor, who serves as an officer of the APRE Board of Directors.

"The additional funding provided by the USPB board to APRE will help support new research into the nutritional contribution of potatoes in the American diet."

Frank van Schaayk, chairman of the APRE Board of Directors and Regional President -Americas at McCain Foods Ltd., also announced that three new positions on the organization's board will be filled by representatives from the growing sector.

From its inception in 2011, the APRE Board of Directors has included representatives from across the potato industry,"said van Schaayk. "Potato growers have strongly signaled their support of APRE and its vital work in advancing our scientific knowledge about the potato, no matter how it is prepared, through top-notch nutrition research and education initiatives.
Going forward, the potato growing sector will now have a stronger voice at the board level to help direct those initiatives and we are delighted with this development."

The new board positions will be filled by the end of the year, said van Schaayk.