Industry Associations

Washington's hot summer has shrunk the size of potatoes, which could make long fries and large baked potatoes less plentiful this season.

Ben Stein - Actor, Author, Economist, and Pop Culture Icon - will be headlining the Potato Expo 2014 in Texas.

Total US potato and product exports for FY13 (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013) increased 4 percent in value to $1,639,911,793 and also rose 4 percent in volume to 1,561,896 metric tons (MT)--both record levels.

During the week of Aug. 23, the National Potato Council (NPC) led a delegation of five U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees in a crop tour of the Columbia Basin growing area in Oregon.

North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) is projecting a 22.6% production drop in the North Dakota Potato crop this fall.

US Consumers frustrated with historically high potato prices should look for some relief at the checkout lane soon when the late summer and fall crops start hitting store shelves.

The Idaho Potato Commission has stepped up its global marketing efforts with the addition of Traci Hiebert as the new Idaho Potato Commission international marketing director.

Officials from Oregon and Washington are working on an upcoming joint trade mission to expand export opportunities for Northwest potatoes.

Nora Olsen is The Potato Association of America president for 2013-2014. Olsen is a professor and Extension potato specialist at the University of Idaho’s Kimberly Research and Extension Center.

Industry leaders with the Maine Potato Board said Thursday that after a wet and soggy spring which forced some growers to do some replanting, crops are recovering and if the weather holds, Aroostook County is on track to have a bountiful potato harvest.

The United States Potato Board (USPB) has named produce industry veteran, Blair Richardson, as President/CEO, effective August 1, 2013.

For the past 25 years, Don Odiorne, Vice President-Foodservice for the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC), has focused his considerable energies on creating national awareness and customer preference for Idaho® Potatoes in the foodservice sector.

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board is hoping a new investment in oil seed research will help farmers make the most of a growing oilseed industry.

David Thompson has recently been appointed President and CEO of World Potato Congress Inc, (WPC Inc) an organization headquartered in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada and dedicated to promoting the potato industry world-wide.

Business magnate Ron Offutt formally has denied wrongdoing in a potato price-fixing lawsuit, asking that the case be dismissed or that it go to jury trial.

The Maine Potato Board is pleased to announce the 2013 Farm Family of the Year - the Wayne and Gregg Garrison family of Blaine.

Recently, the House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment offered by Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) to require USDA to include fresh white potatoes as part of its Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.

Kathleen Triou, VP of Domestic Marketing at the United States Potato Board will become the chief marketing officer for Avocados From Mexico starting July 1.