Industry Associations

Elizabeth Avery was appointed President of SNAC International during the International Board of Directors meeting on September 29. She will begin as President on January 16, 2017 and take over the roll of CEO on July 1, 2017 from outgoing-CEO Tom Dempsey after the six-month transition period.

United Potato Growers of America announced today that its executive board has unanimously chosen Mark Klompien as the organization’s next president and chief executive officer, replacing Jerry Wright.

Northern Plains Potato Growers Association (NPPGA) has launched a new website, one entirely dedicated to promoting potatoes grown for the fresh market and branded as Red River Valley Potatoes. Fittingly, the new web address is RedRiverValleyPotatoes.com.

The Idaho Potato Commission recently appointed Ritchey Toevs of Toevs Farm as Chairman and Lynn Wilcox of Wilcox, Floyd & Sons as Vice Chairman.

United Potato Growers of America President/CEO, Jerry Wright, announced his coming retirement at the August 23 Board of Directors meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In New York City, the world’s largest potato on wheels traded its tires for buoys in celebration of the 2016 Idaho® Potato Harvest.

USDA staff from the AMS Plant Variety Protection Office and APHIS Biotech Regulatory Services on a tour of the Sterman Masser Potato Farm facilities in central Pennsylvania on August 23.

When reviewing the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) website analytics for the past year (August 2015-August 2016), IPC staff wasn’t surprised to find that Dr. Potato (alias Don Odiorne, Vice President-Foodservice) had garnered 959,328 page views, nearly 50% of all www.idahopotato.com views.

During the Potatoes USA Summer Meeting held in Seattle August 10, it was announced that the Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE) has been restructured in an effort to minimize overhead costs and expand research on potato nutrition.

Potatoes USA is pleased to announce Rachael Lynch has joined its staff as a Global Marketing Manager for institutional foodservice

After five years as the president and CEO of the Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE), Maureen Storey, Ph.D., is no longer leading the organization.

On July 15, Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan announced a series of appointments and re-appointments to the Michigan Potato Industry Commission

Maine potato farmers have wrapped up planting and are hoping for a good year.

Potatoes USA announced earlier this month that nominations are now open for new Board Members for the 2017-2020 term.

Congress is pushing the Agriculture Department to exempt groups such as Potatoes USA (formerly known as the United States Potato Board) from public scrutiny of their internal operations (Freedom of Information Act).

The Potatoes USA grower membership elected new leadership during its Annual Meeting held in Colorado Springs, Colo., March 14-17

The Snack Food Association (SFA) is excited to announce a new name and identity as SNAC International to reflect the changing marketplace.

The National Potato Council (NPC) will award one $10,000 academic scholarship to honor a graduate student (Master’s degree or higher) working to improve the future of the US potato industry.