March 2021 - 6

TAKING STOCK
EDITOR'S LETTER
Office 616-887-9008
New sustainability award
Sustainability is going to be a major topic for food producers for
Zeke Jennings
Managing Editor
the foreseeable future. Consumers are becoming increasingly more
conscious of how food is grown, processed,
packaged, transported and what those processes
ultimately do to this planet that human beings
inhabit.
It's a hot-button, politicized topic. When that
happens, people with bigger, broader agendas
start scrutinizing the way an industry and its
members handle their business.
In the case of specialty crop growers, many of
the practices that are considered " sustainable, "
like minimizing inputs and precision irrigation, also are economically
sensible, so many already are moving in those directions.
A big challenge growers face, however, is sharing that story.
As we detailed in the February issue in the article, " Sharing the
sustainability story, " which also is available on spudman.com,
step 1 is communicating with policymakers and the public that
sustainability is important to you. Step 2 is showing what and how
you're doing to achieve that goal.
Spudman and Valent U.S.A. agree that recognizing and telling the
story of farms achieving sustainable practices is important. To help
achieve this, Spudman's parent company Great American Media
Services has created the Specialty Grower Sustainability Award
program, with Valent U.S.A. as the inaugural sponsor.
The award is open to " growers or farming operations who have
taken significant steps to improve sustainability in their agricultural
practices can be nominated. Nominees will be judged based on:
Innovative Thinking, Execution, Impact/Results and Leadership in
the Industry. " This can be through any combination of numerous
categories, such as water management, soil regeneration,
greenhouse gas emissions, advocacy and others.
The potato industry is full of humble farmers who aren't looking
for a pat on the back or attention for their farm. This award isn't
just an award, however, it's a chance to get your sustainability story
out there and documented. The more instances of transparency and
examples of sustainability, the easier it is to tell that story to the
public and those who ultimately make decisions on the resources
and tools farmers will have at their disposal.
The nomination period for the Specialty Grower Sustainability
Award is open through April 16. I encourage you to nominate,
whether your operation or maybe that of someone you work
with or know.
Nominate at spudman.com/sustainability.
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Spudman.com
Managing Editor Zeke Jennings, 616-520-2159
zjennings@greatamericanpublish.com
Contributing Editors Gary Pullano, 616-520-2144
Stephen Kloosterman, 616-520-2152
Multimedia Designer Greg Ryan, 616-520-2145
spudproduction@spudman.com
Editorial Board
Randy Hardy, Oakley Farms, Oakley, Idaho
Andy Jensen, Northwest Potato Research Consortium
Don Sklarczyk, Sklarczyk Seed Farms, Johannesburg, Mich.
Robert Thornton, Washington State University, Pullman, Wash.
Integrated Marketing Andrea Schafer, 616-520-2139
Consultant spudmanads@spudman.com
Editorial Director Tim Hodson, 616-520-2161
thodson@greatamericanpublish.com
Creative Director Kristina Howell, 616-520-2168
khowell@greatamericanpublish.com
Custom Marketing Jess Schmidt, 616-520-2141
Manager jschmidt@greatamericanpublish.com
Circulation Becky Stovall, 616-520-2138
circulation@spudman.com
Vice President/Group Gerry Bogdon
Publisher gbogdon@greatamericanpublish.com
CFO & Director of Deb Carnes, 616-520-2169
Human Resources dcarnes@greatamericanpublish.com
COO & CMO Kimberly Baker
kbaker@greatamericanpublish.com
CEO Matt McCallum
publisher@spudman.com
The Magazine: Editorial and advertising offices at Great American
Publishing, P.O. Box 128, Sparta, MI 49345, Phone: 616-887-9008
Fax: 616-887-2666
SPUDMAN volume 59 number 3 (ISSN 0038-8661) is printed 8 times
a year in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May/June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec
by Great American Publishing, 75 Applewood Drive - Suite A, Sparta,
MI 49345. Periodical postage paid at Sparta, MI 49345 and additional
mailing office.
The opinions and views expressed by authors, contributors and
advertisers in Spudman do not necessarily reflect those of the
editors and publisher. Appearance in Spudman does not constitute
endorsement by Great American Media Services or Spudman of the
advertiser, its products, or services. Great American Media Services
and Spudman accept no responsibility of liability for the validity
or accuracy of information supplied by contributors, vendors,
advertisers, or advertising agencies. Great American Media Services
and Spudman do not make any claims or guarantees as to the
accuracy or validity of information supplied by contributors, vendors,
advertisers or advertising agencies. Copyright 2021.
Subscriptions: Subscriptions are free to qualified U.S. potato
growers. Canada: $56 per year U.S. funds. International: $100 per
year U.S. funds. Single copy and back issues: $6
Postmaster: Please send address changes and corrections to: Great
American Publishing, PO Box 318, Lincolnshire IL 60069
Reprints: Permission is granted for reprinting material, except for
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http://www.spudman.com http://www.spudman.com/sustainability http://www.Spudman.com
March 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2021
