April 2022 - 13

" When you have all those cancellations at the last
minute, the hotel came back on us (for fewer attendees), "
Quarles said, " but Hollee had worked so well with them on
other value-added things, we were very close to budget. "
In the end, the difference in expected revenue was only
$17,000 smaller than the difference in expected expenses.
" The need to draw from our reserves shouldn't happen as
a result, " said Mike Wenkel, NPC's chief operating officer.
Ben Sklarczyk of Michigan, the NPC's current VP of
Finance, led the meeting.
GROWER OUTREACH & INDUSTRY
RESEARCH COMMITTEE
The NPC launched the " Eye on Potatoes " podcast in January
2020. As of press date, 46 episodes have been published. The
guest list has 42 members of the agriculture industry, not just
the potato industry, as well as two members of Congress.
The podcast has served as a means to communicate with
members of the potato industry, as well as those outside of
the industry. It has received more than 8,400 downloads.
" It's great for talking about our issues in a longconversation
form. There is only so much you can get into
a press release or a column, " said Mark Szymanski, the
NPC's director of communications. Syngenta has become
the full-time sponsor of " Eye on Potatoes. "
Szymanski's role includes not only working with the
media, but communicating with government officials.
Quarles cited his efforts in getting potatoes in the
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program after initial USDA
data was inaccurate. Szymanski also monitors the press for
inaccuracies on potatoes.
" Mark is ruthless when a reporter gets something
wrong, " Quarles said.
Earned media for the NPC - non-advertising mentions
of the organization - went up 9% on potential reach in
2021, led by mentions by Forbes, Yahoo and the Washington
Post. Volume of mentions went up 60%, led by Spudman.
The Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI), which
is under the Potato LEAF, returned in 2022 after being
canceled in 2021. To date, 360 people from 24 states have
gone through the program, led by 73 from Idaho, 59 from
Washington and 46 from Colorado.
" We think its benefits are going to echo long into the
future, " Quarles said.
The Potato Research Advisory Committee (PRAC)
recently wrapped up its window for research projects for
consideration to submit for federal funding. The American
Potato Research & Education (APRE) is preparing for when
the USDA starts soliciting research for the next round of
Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Dean Gibson, of Magic Valley Produce in Idaho, is the
newest member of the NPC's executive committee as the
VP of the outreach and research committee.
(Note: The Environmental Affairs Committee met as
well, however, the audio from the digital feed was not
clear enough to hear.)
Certified Organic
Seed Potatoes
Certified Organic Pre-Nuclear Seed Potatoes
Double Certified through the Conventional Seed
Potato Program and the Organic Certification
Program; MN Dept of Agriculture and Oregon Tilth.
Selling quality seed potatoes for over 35 years
www.potatoseed.com
Sales: Sandi Aarestad
Cell: 701-430-1329 email: sandi@potatoseed.com
RED:
Bison
Chieftain
Ciklamen
Dakota Rose
Modoc
Monte Carlo
Negra Ojosa
ND113207-1R
NY Red La Soda
Red Magic
Red Norland
Red Norland (Dark)
Red Pontiac
Red Prairie
Rose Valley
Sangre
W8893-1R
WHITE:
Atlantic
Cal White
Cascade
Dakota Pearl
Early Valley
Go Gu Valley
Kennebec
Lady Liberty
Lamoka
Lelah
Mackinaw
Manistee
Shepody
Taebok Valley
Waneta
YELLOW:
Agate
Alegria
Anuschka
Barcelona
Belle de Fontenay
Belmonda
Buffalo
Dore
Gui Valley
Milva
Morning Gold
Natascha
ND1241-1Y
ND7799C-1
Paroli
Prada
Satina
Sieglinde
Sinatra
Soraya
Stick Valley
Verdi
Voyager
Yukon Gold
RUSSET:
Bannock Russet
Blazer Russet
Classic Russet
Clearwater Russet
Dakota Russet
Dakota Trailblazer
King Russet
Mercury Russet
MN13142-32
NOVELTY:
Amarosa
ATND99331-2Pinto Y
Austrian Crescent
Bergerac
Bora Valley
Bordeaux
California Gold
Caribe
Criolla #5
French Fingerling
Huckleberry Gold
King Edward
MN07112WB
Peter Wilcox
Purple Majesty
Purple Pelisse
Purple Valley
Red Thumb
Russian Banana
Skagit Valley Gold
Smilin' Eyes
Norkotah #3
Norkotah TX278
Norkotah TX296
Ranger Russet
Reveille Russet
Russet Burbank
Silverton Russet
Teton Russet
Umatilla Russet
Spudman * April 2022
11
http://www.potatoseed.com
April 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2022
