USDA appoints 11 to National Potato Promotion Board

The USDA has appointed 11 members to serve on the National Potato Promotion Board, beginning March 1.

Nine producer members and one public member will serve three-year terms ending Feb. 28, 2028, while one producer appointee will serve a two-year term ending Feb. 28, 2027.

The appointees include 2019 Spudwoman of the Year Alison Sklarczyk, lab manager and chief financial officer of Sklarczyk Seed Farm in Johannesburg, Michigan.

The board conducts business as Potatoes USA.

Candidates are proposed by the industry and are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture after a thorough review.

The Potatoes USA board sets strategic goals and objectives for the organization and allocates resources to marketing, research and education initiatives. The board monitors these programs’ performance to ensure they are effective for the potato industry, including growers, processors and other stakeholders.

Newly appointed producer members:

• Thomas Baker, Bakersfield, California
• Andrew J. Price, Center, Colorado
• Beth Rachut, St. Ansgar, Iowa (two-year term)
• Diane Szawlowski Mullins, Hatfield, Massachusetts
• Alison Sklarczyk, Johannesburg, Michigan
• Pete Ewing, Big Lake, Minnesota
• Ben De Jonge, Manhattan, Montana
• Nathan Bender, Dyer, Nevada
• Matthew Linehan, Guildhall, Vermont
• Jennifer Bunger, Pasco, Washington

Newly appointed public member:

• Norbert Bomm, Chicago, Illinois

The board has 82 members, including 79 producer members, two importer members and one public member. Members can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct research and promotions.