Spudman April 2023 - 33

America is a Spud Nation
An NPC report demonstrates to lawmakers
that potatoes are an important crop
As growers flew
NATIONAL
POTATO
COUNCIL
RJ Andrus
President
into D.C. to " stand
up for potatoes on
Capitol Hill " during
this year's National
Potato Council
Washington Summit,
Feb. 27-March 3,
they were armed with
new data that clearly
demonstrated the vital
role potatoes play in
our nation's economy.
Over the years,
state potato organizations gathered
compelling information on the impact of the
potato industry on the state level. However,
last year, the National Potato Council (NPC)
commissioned a comprehensive study on the
national economic contribution of American
growers and the entire U.S. potato industry.
To kick off the Washington Summit,
NPC issued its new report, Measuring
the Economic Significance of the U.S.
Potato Industry, authored by Michigan
State University economists. We've always
known that as America's most-consumed
vegetable, potatoes are an important source
of nutrition for consumers. Now, for the first
time, this report allowed us to demonstrate
to lawmakers that potatoes are an
incredibly important crop for America's rural
communities and the country as a whole.
ECONOMIC DRIVING FORCE
According to our Spud Nation report,
the U.S. potato sector is a driving force of
America's economic prosperity. Here's why:
Potatoes made an estimated contribution
of $100.9 billion in 2021. This contribution
stems from direct and indirect economic
activity including:
* $10.8 billion in agriculture production
and agribusiness services;
* $49.1 billion in processing, wholesaling,
and retail; and
* $41 billion in food service industries and
household consumption.
Notably, farm production makes up
approximately 10% of the total economic
The National Potato Council's Measuring the Economic Significance of the
U.S. Potato Industry report is now available.
contribution of the potato supply chain -
underscoring the significance of largely
family-owned potato farms as the foundation
for jobs and wealth throughout the entire
U.S. economy.
Now, let's talk job creation. Obviously,
farms employ people in rural areas.
However, now we know that the U.S.
potato sector supports an estimated
714,000 domestic jobs - from the time a
potato field is prepared through the time
a consumer purchases a potato or potato
product at a store or restaurant.
Additionally, those 714,000 jobs provide
wages of $34.1 billion annually to those
employed along the supply chain. All told,
an impressive 0.4% of the entire U.S.
workforce relies on the potato industry for
their livelihoods, contributing $53 million
towards annual GDP growth.
NPC's Spud Nation report cements that
potatoes are an essential component
to our prosperity as a nation. We're
excited to share the results of this
report with lawmakers, growers, and
allied industry partners at the website
nationalpotatocouncil.org/spudnation.
As a country, we are fortunate to have
potatoes as one of our strongest assets,
as they hold the potential for further
growth and future development. We are
a Spud Nation.
Spudman.com 33
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Spudman April 2023

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