The U.S. Potato Board may want you
Farm and Ranch Report June 22, 2011 The nomination process of growers to serve on the U.S. Potato Board is getting underway. David Fraser, Vice President of Industry Communications and Policy for the Potato Board, says the selection process is very important given that growers direct and run the program. Fraser: “The industry is looking for individuals who really want to serve and serve their constituents.” Being a board member is a voluntary, non-paid position for a three-year term and two consecutive terms can be served. Fraser emphasizes that Potato Board staff do not dictate or get involved directly in the selection of board members. The nomination of all board members come from state potato organizations. Fraser: “The growers in the state are invited, all state growers in the state are invited to a central location and a meeting and nominations and election takes place.” Those state results are due in to the Potato Board August 1st. Fraser says that especially since 2008 there has been a strong push for board members to reflect the potato industry in terms of its ethnicity, farm size and gender and that has been communicated to the states to consider in the nomination process. A selection process that began in April may not be completed until just before the Potato Board’s annual meeting in March. In between Fraser says the nominees will have undergone an approval process by USDA which includes a background check. 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.
