U.S. dehydrated potatoes and food aid; "Like Manna from Heaven"

Farm and Ranch Report June 8, 2011 Idaho potato grower and executive board member of the U.S. Potato Board, Cheryl Koompin, has been to Africa and seen first hand what it means to have U.S. dehydrated potatoes in food aid. She calls it manna from heaven.

Koompin says the Potato Board conducts several activities under the International Food Assistance Initiative working with the private voluntary organizations, such as assisting with their proposals to U.S. government programs. She was involved with assisting the International Partnership for Human Development in a proposal for Guinea Bissau.

Koompin: “Then training was provided to ensure the successful implementation of the potato flakes into the school program and that was what I was a part of. I helped educate the recipients on how to use the potato flakes.”

That led to a second application for Guinea Bissau and the inclusion of dehy in the Congo program.

Koompin says over 9.7 thousand metric tons of dehydrated potatoes valued at 9.6 million dollars have been purchased over the past ten years for U.S. funded international aid and there is the potential for much more given the three million metric ton or one billion dollar annual distribution of food aid around the world.

Koompin: “Even if ½ of one percent were to go to the purchase of dehy spuds it would represent more than ten million each year. So, that is a direct impact on the grower because it is a new market and a huge growth opportunity.”

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.