02/23/07 North American Potato Summit

After years of economic losses US and Canadian potato growers are collaborating to create some profit for growers. That's why the United Potato Growers of America, United of Canada and the Potato Marketing Association of North America held a summit meeting last week in Las Vegas. 60 potato industry growers and leaders attended the meeting. UPGA chairman Albert Wada says they've made progress over the past two years and want to continue that effort in 2007. WADA "I think if we hadn't got potato growers across North America thinking about the effects of about supply and demand a little bit more in front of their mind and actually seeing cause and effect we'd be looking at a different market I'm pretty sure." At the summit growers agreed to work together to eliminate speculative potato plantings this year and to manage their acreage. Process growers were advised to plant only up to their own contract volume while fresh growers were asked to plant only enough potatoes to supply their known markets. Other summit recommendations call for acreage adjustments because of yield increases and preparing for an anticipating drop in fresh potato consumption. The potato growers thought the summit was so useful they've already planned to meet again next February in Las Vegas to prepare for 2008 collaborative efforts. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott