Competition and market access are the two biggest issues facing the potato industry as it tries to expand exports.
“We had been benefiting from having a weak dollar, but that has also made the cost of international programs higher,” said Bart Connors, immediate past chairman of the U.S. Potato Board, in his final chairman’s report March 12 during the board’s annual meeting.
Increasing costs of operations overseas are the main driver for a larger international marketing budget planned for the board’s 2010 fiscal year. Board members on March 13 voted to increase grower assessments from 2.5 to 3 cents per cwt. and of the estimated $1.5 million increase for the fiscal year, the international marketing budget is slated to see a $440,000 bump.
“We had been benefiting from having a weak dollar, but that has also made the cost of international programs higher,” said Bart Connors, immediate past chairman of the U.S. Potato Board, in his final chairman’s report March 12 during the board’s annual meeting.
Increasing costs of operations overseas are the main driver for a larger international marketing budget planned for the board’s 2010 fiscal year. Board members on March 13 voted to increase grower assessments from 2.5 to 3 cents per cwt. and of the estimated $1.5 million increase for the fiscal year, the international marketing budget is slated to see a $440,000 bump.
“All the board does internationally helps every U.S. exporter sell potatoes,” says Cheryl Koompin, who co-chaired the potato board’s 2008 international marketing committee. “It keeps U.S. potatoes at the top of people’s minds.”
