12/04/07 United potto co-op, part two

No doubt about it, Idaho potato growers have benefited from the formation of the United Potato effort. But United's Jerry Wright says it doesn't mean growers are making big profits on higher prices. WRIGHT "Fuel prices are up just in the last 60 days over 30 percent; over the last year they're up 50 percent, fertilizer prices similarly." United controls 80 percent of all Idaho fresh potato acres, 85 percent of the seed acres and about 65 percent of the processed acres. That has resulted in dramatic changes to the Idaho potato industry. WRIGHT "We bought into the dehydration industry and have formed a joint venture with North American Foods where we own half of North American Foods, the largest dehydrator in North America." And now United looks to strengthen the fresh market next year by buying potatoes and marketing them under the Idahoan brand. WRIGHT "We're having one of the strongest holiday seasons for fresh potato sales that we've had in the last four to five years so we're optimistic about where the market is today and where the market can go for the rest of the year. We're also very optimist about next year." Wright says 90 percent of the Idaho members who responded to a recent survey said that their life was better today because of the programs that United has incorporated over the three years of its existence. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott