Nominations open for 2024 Potatoes USA board members

Potatoes USA is accepting board member nominations for the 2024-2027 term.

The board is seeking nominees to fill 60 open seats for producers from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, as well as for importers.

Potatoes USA is the nation’s potato research and promotion organization and is the central organizing force in implementing programs to strengthen demand for potatoes, according to a news release. Potatoes USA says it provides ideas, information, tools and inspiration for the industry to unite in achieving common goals.

All state potato organizations have received information and materials to begin the process of seeking and nominating interested growers. Appointed growers will be seated on the board at the 2024 annual meeting in Denver, March 11-13.

According to the group, nominees for Potatoes USA should be willing to:

• Attend the board’s annual meeting held in March each year of the three-year term from 2024-2027.
• Be active in the potato-farming community.
• Be visible in community work, participate in local government, cultural or business affairs; someone who is a leader.
• Be willing to represent and communicate with their constituents on a regular basis.
• Take the time to actively support Potatoes USA programs in their areas.
• Speak to grower groups, newspaper reporters and interested parties about Potatoes USA programs, relating the value of the board to all growers, how the 3-cent per hundredweight assessment is invested and ask for input from those interested in becoming active in the promotion of potatoes.

If you are interested in being considered by your state grower leadership to fill an open spot representing your state, contact your state program manager or Chelsea Gray at the Potatoes USA office in Denver at chelsea@potatoesusa.com.

The nominating process will be completed by Aug. 15 this year, according to the release.