07/13/07 Spud groups prepare for meeting

Next Monday in Idaho Falls we'll learn about the future of the Idaho potato industry on two important fronts; marketing and consolidation. The seed grower meeting and the Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative general membership meeting will begin at 9 AM. The United Potato Growers of Idaho will begin their meeting two hours later and will bring all growers up to date on their continuing efforts to vertically integrate potato growers into the dehy industry. United will also be discussing year-to-date shipment figures for the 2006 crop, give a forecast of the 2007 crop and planting guidelines for the 2008 crop. The Potato Growers of Idaho meeting follows lunch and that's when executive director Keith Esplin will tell growers its time that PGI consolidate with the Idaho Potato Commission. ESPLIN "You've got growers paying into United check offs, paying into SIPCO for bargaining, IGSA the Idaho Grower-Shipper Association also representing growers, so we've been trying to find a way to simplify it." Esplin says this looks like the best option, one he believes will actually strengthen the Idaho potato industry. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott