Maintaining U.S. potato quality after the sale

Farm and Ranch Report December 8, 2010 Overseas buyers of U.S. frozen potato products get training through the U.S. Potato Board’s Integrated Potato Program on how to properly handle, prepare and store the quality product they purchased.

Susan Weller, who manages international frozen product marketing for the USPB, says proper handling of U.S. product is critical.

Weller: “Because if the end-user finds a limp and soggy fry, then they are not going to want to go back to that establishment. So it not only brings loyalty to the end-user but loyalty to the food service establishment to continue buying U.S. product.”

Weller says the goal of the on-site training is to have at least 75 percent of the outlets adopt proper handling practices.

Weller: “Usually in the past we‘ve actually gotten up to 100% adopting proper storage and handling. And we actually do audits before, during and after the training to ensure that every outlet is properly handling U.S. product.”

Weller says recent research shows the Potato Board’s training pays off.

Weller: “It basically showed that our value added services such as chain training, or on-site training, actually helped maintain our customers and adds new customers all the time for U.S. products.”

That’s the U.S. Potato Update. Brought to you by the United States Potato Board, maximizing return on grower investment. I’m Bob Hoff for Northwest Aginfo Net.