USPB Seed Export Program Hosts Symposium

The United States Potato Board seed export program brought together current and potential buyers from seven countries around the world with 12 U.S. growers and shippers participating as well in an educational event about U.S. seed potatoes. USPB Marketing Operations Director Amy Burdett says the purpose of the symposium is to share information about U.S. seed potatoes so customers realize the high quality of U.S. seed potatoes and then the international prospective of current and prospective international customer of their country’s needs and marketing environment.
Burdett: “So together we share information, but also network opportunities — a group lunch and a group dinner allows for more interaction between participants. Connections are made that are then lasting. At the end of the week — we bring them to the United States for a whole week - the symposium is just the launching point. Then the participants are broken up into smaller groups that are then taken out into the fields to potato growing states and field visits. Where they get to see the crop in the ground, get to talk to the growers at their farms and to get to know exactly what our growing methods and get to dig potatoes as well. That is always a good start for growers to get to know each other is to get down and get their hands dirty together.”