USDA announces National Potato Promotion Board appointments

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently announced the appointment of 30 members to serve three-year terms on the National Potato Promotion Board.

Newly appointed producer members include:

Jared B. Smith, Alamosa, Colorado;

Wes Pahl, Aberdeen, Idaho;

Tyson Ruff, Aberdeen, Idaho;

Kasey Poulson, American Falls, Idaho;

Eric Searle, Burley, Idaho;

Mike Larsen, Declo, Idaho;

Ryan Christensen, Grace, Idaho;

Jeff Blanksma, Hammett, Idaho;

Steve Elfering, Idaho Falls, Idaho;

P.J. Stevens, Idaho Falls, Idaho;

Blake Matthews, Oakley, Idaho;

Blake Thorlund, Greenville, Michigan;

Jeffrey B. Jennings, Camden, North Carolina;

John Coombs Jr., Elmer, New Jersey;

Kyle Michael, Urbana, Ohio; and

Adam W. Weber, Moses Lake, Washington.

Reappointed producer members are as follows:

Dan Moss, Declo, Idaho;

Jeff Harper, Mountain Home, Idaho;

Kent Bitter, Shelley, Idaho;

Kyle Lennard, Sturgis, Michigan;

Jeff J. Edling, Becker, Minnesota;

Gary H. Gray, Clear Lake, Minnesota;

Chris Hansen, Bliss, New York;

Jeff Van Ray, Pingree, North Dakota;

Tyler P. Young, Little Compton, Rhode Island;

E. Phillip Hickman, Horntown, Virginia;

Randi Renee Hammer, Pasco, Washington;

Molly Connors, Richland, Washington;

Heidi Alsum-Randall, Cambria, Wisconsin; and

Marilyn Freeman Dolan, Atwater, California, was reappointed as the public member.

“The United States is recognized as the world leader in potato production with products that offer high-quality, consistency and variety,” said Perdue. “Representing nearly 2,500 American commercial potato growers and 450 importing companies, the work of the members of the National Potato Board provides an invaluable service for the U.S. farm sector and the American economy as a whole.”

The National Potato Promotion Board consists of producers, importers and one public member. The board is authorized by the Potato Research and Promotion Act and the Potato Research and Promotion Plan. Since 1966, Congress has authorized 22 industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.

More information about the board is available on the National Potato Promotion Board page on the AMS website at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/potato and at PotatoesUSA.com, the National Potato Promotion Board’s website.