06/06/07 Selling the dehy message overseas

When the USDA and the US Agency for International Development held their annual conference recently some US Potato Board members were there. The potato board was promoting dehydrated potatoes for food aid to the PVO's, the Private Voluntary Organizations that receive and distribute the aid. The Potato Board Vice President for International Marketing John Toaspern says it's the first time dehy processors participated in the conference. TOASPERN "It did two things. One, it helped the processors to better understand what this market is all about. It is a very complicated process of getting our product in. Some of the requirements, some of the issues are ones that they don't normally face in their commercial sales. So on the flip side, it was really beneficial for them to get a chance to meet with the PVOs and explain their product." Dehydrated potatoes have been eligible for food aid programs for a short time. Toaspern says annual sales to the aid program ranged from 550 thousand dollars to 2.6 million but he thinks it can grow to 5.2 million dollars annually. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott