10/31/06 Idaho Potato Commission, part 2

MUIR "We've got the best potatoes in the whole world. It's the number one consumed vegetable in the country." He's talking about Idaho potatoes. I'm Bill Scott and Today's Idaho Ag News is next. Frank Muir says Idaho has the best. He is bullish on Idaho potatoes and he'd better be. Muir is the President of the Idaho Potato Commission and he's trying to do all he can to help market the state's most famous farm product. Cash receipts last year for all Idaho crops were 1.9 billion dollars, potatoes accounting for more than a quarter of that total at 523 million. The commission promotes the good taste and nutritional benefits of Idaho potatoes, protects the state's trade mark but doesn't grow, dig, pack or ship a single spud. MUIR "But we can certainly do the research to help guide our industry on ways which we can expand the usage of not only fresh potatoes, but dehydrated potatoes and even frozen potatoes. We have obviously a very successful fresh franchise here in Idaho but we're looking to strengthen all of our different marketing segments of the potato franchise not only domestically but worldwide." In the three years Muir has been with the IPC he's concentrated on the Idaho brand and new products that can help the industry grow. The commission itself is made up of nine members representing processors, shippers and growers and is still considered to be the country's foremost authorities on potatoes. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott