Collaboration Engages Entire Potato Industry

Collaboration Engages Entire Potato Industry

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the U.S. Potato Update.

The United States Potato Board has been working together with potato breeders, growers, processors and state potato organizations on two significant variety testing projects--the National Fry Processing Trial and the Chip Processing Trial. The results benefit and engage the entire potato industry.

United States Potato Board CEO Tim O’Connor says this collaboration amongst all the segments, though a bit challenging to get everyone at the table at first, has allowed all involved to invest their ideas, expertise and resources into these national programs which has provided the greatest upside potential for results and success to the entire potato industry. 

O’Connor: “Collaboration on major industry challenges and opportunities gives greater results. Certainly there is still competition and there are individual companies within the industry that are looking for their own success -- which is logical -- however it is best accomplished by letting collaboration identify in this case new varieties, in other cases it is moving the consumer forward or opening new markets or growing demand. You get the big things accomplished as an industry and then you get the opportunity as a company to compete in more open playing field in a more exciting environment with that has the opportunity for more robust performance.”

This was the U.S. Potato Update brought to you by the United States Potato Board, maximizing return on grower investment. I’m KayDee Gilkey on the Northwest Ag Information Network.