11/21/05 Several potato producer groups meet

The United Fresh Potato Growers, the Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative and the Potato Growers of Idaho all met jointly last week. PGI's Keith Esplin says one of the things they did talk about was potential consolidation and more collaboration. ESPLIN "There's about three or four different organizations that serve the potato industry. Each have offices, each have copy machines, secretaries, whatever that probably we could operate more efficiently under one roof and just by being located under one roof you have more sharing of information and more understanding between organizations. So that's one aspect that we're going to take very seriously." Esplin says growers have a concern in one area and that will be addressed. ESPLIN "Consolidate the actual numbers of dues checkoffs. We will be discussing this very seriously now. We have the approval of our organizations to go ahead right now and enter into those as long as we maintain a structure that will allow us to continue to serve the growers like we've been doing." There could be some agreements signed that allow for various organizations to share their employees' talents. Esplin says one thing that none of the growers can control is the rising cost of fuel and fertilizer which shot through the roof this year. Interest rates have been steadily creeping up and are at least 25 percent higher than they were a year ago. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott