On presidents and potatoes
February is Presidents Month and thoughts of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln have me thinking about the National Potato Council’s Potato D.C. Fly-In at the end of February.
I encourage everyone who has any involvement in the potato industry to take this opportunity to meet with federal legislators and regulators and stand up for the nation’s potato industry. I guarantee that you’ll come away from the experience with a deeper appreciation for our representative form of government and you may even learn your way through the halls of Congress.
You don’t have to be a grower to have skin in the potato market. This month’s profile of Kurt Holland, by David Fairbourn, is a good example of a non-grower who is deeply involved in the potato industry from the marketing perspective.
Holland works as the sales manager for Mountain Valley Produce in Center, Colorado, in the beautiful San Luis Valley. He also sits on the U.S. Potato Board’s international committee. It’s an experience that has proven mutually beneficially to Holland and the USPB. He’s been able to apply his USPB experience to his business and the USPB benefits from his sales perspective to increase potato consumption worldwide.
February is also Potato Lover’s Month,” a promotional marketing blitz sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC). The IPC’s marketing success with “Potato Lover’s Month” cannot be contained in the month of February and this year the IPC has pumped up the marketing campaign eight weeks. You’ll want to read Frank Muir’s column on how the IPC has expanded its efforts to sell Idaho potatoes during the post-holiday marketing slowdown.
It seems that every month we’re either discussing genetically engineered potatoes or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Well, this month it’s UAVs in the spotlight. Shelley Jansky gives an overview of her recent research work with UAVs and their potential uses in an increasing arsenal of technologically advanced tools in agriculture.
We’re redesigning eSpudman, our online newsletter, and looking at a little redesign here in the magazine. I’d like to hear from you on what you like or don’t like in either platform. We want to continue to bring you the best and most up-to-date information about the potato industry and your suggestions will help us continue to do that. Send your comments to me at [email protected].
