2017 Expo serving diverse menu

There will be plenty to experience and discuss during the many networking hours in San Francisco at the Potato Expo 2017. With 46 hours to network during the event, plus pre- and post-Expo events, developing connections and creating partnerships has never been easier.

Leading off the excitement is the second annual Spud Nation Throwdown, a cook-off hosted by Phil Lempert, the Supermarket Guru.

The recipes will utilize various forms of potato including frozen, dehydrated and fresh. Expect a fusion of tastes, cultures and flavors, as a diverse quartet of chefs from Asia and Latin America incorporate potatoes into dishes inspired by their distinctive culinary experiences. The chefs – Wandy Robles (Dominican Republic), Tony de Graaf (Taiwan), Doris Goldgewicht (Costa Rica) and Ian Kittichai (Thailand) – are known for their creative takes on their local cuisine.

Each will showcase potatoes in a dish using ingredients or flavors popular in their country or region. A panel of judges will decide who will walk away as Top Spud. San Francisco is the perfect backdrop for this highly anticipated cooking contest, where the stage will be set for fun personalities and friendly rivalries. The next morning, the four chefs will participate in a panel to offer firsthand advice on their global cooking experiences.

Attendees will also hear from Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes magazine and writer of a biweekly column known for its witty and honest assessment of current business issues. Karlgaard deftly forecasts how the business and technology world is likely to unfold over the next five to 10 years, sharing thought-provoking and actionable ideas that help leaders “future proof” their organizations and investments.

Karlgaard is also the author of “Team Genius,” which focuses on management strategy, and “The Soft Edge,” which argues that companies who are most successful have a soft edge which can be found in their values. On stage, he will share insights on business strategies to help growers see the global marketplace with new eyes.

Finally, get inspired by Jim Morris, a former minor league baseball player who thought his pitching career was over after arm injuries. Eleven years after his stint in the minors, Jim was coaching a high school baseball team whose players made him reconsider his dream of pitching. He wanted his high school team to aim high and made a bet with the team: if they won the district championship, he would try out for the majors. The team won, Jim tried out and became a major league pitcher at 35 years old, debuting in 1999 for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. His story was made into the film “The Rookie,” which won an ESPY for “Sports Film of the Year” in 2002.

Arrive ready to discuss new recipes for potatoes and just enjoy seeing your colleagues at the San Francisco “street party” on Thursday night in the Marriott Marquis, which will showcase the ethnically diverse cuisine of San Francisco neighborhoods. You won’t want to miss the energy that this cosmopolitan city delivers! Register today at www.potato-expo.com.

Co-chairmen of the 2017 Potato Expo steering committee