During Potato Expo 2024, National Potato Council 2023 President RJ Andrus and First Vice President Bob Mattive sat down to reflect on their time on the Executive Committee and preview some of the top policy priorities for the upcoming NPC Washington Summit, Feb. 26- March 1, 2024. RJ Andrus of Idaho Falls, Idaho, is a third-generation farmer and an owner of TBR Farms located in Hamer, Idaho. He has served on the Executive Committee since 2019, in roles including Vice President of Grower Outreach and Industry Research, and as Vice President of Legislative Affairs. In addition to serving on the National Potato Council as First Vice President and Vice President of Environmental Affairs, Bob Mattive serves on several Colorado agricultural committees and boards. The 2,000-acre Worley Family Farms is run by Bob, his wife Gail (Worley), along with their sons Grant and Reid and nephew Matthew Smartt.This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore us.com/spud-doctor/">syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.  

The Farm Bill expired in September 2023, and the dysfunction in Washington, D.C. continues to threaten this essential rewrite of our nation’s farm policy. Risk management, export promotion, pest and disease prevention, nutrition policy and numerous other programs that make growers competitive are tied up in political infighting. During Potato Expo 2024, Kam Quarles of National Potato Council and Tyson Redpath of The Russell Group sat down to talk about how we got here, where we might be going, and what growers can do to break the impasse on Capitol Hill.Guests: ●        Kam Quarles, CEO, National Potato Council●        Tyson Redpath, Principal, The Russell GroupThis podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore us.com/spud-doctor/">syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.  

U.S. potato production is weather-sensitive and risk associated with adverse weather can derail a well-managed operation very quickly. During Potato Expo 2024, we sat down with Andrew Pritchard, Senior Meteorologist at Nutrien, to discuss how weather over the last 70 years has impacted potato production and what weather patterns are the best and worst for growing potatoes. Andrew also discussed the different types of weather risks and previewed the weather storylines to watch for in 2024.Guest: Andrew Pritchard, Senior Meteorologist, NutrienThis podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore us.com/spud-doctor/">syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.  

More Americans than ever before are firing up their grills, smokers, or flattops (sometimes all at the same time!) to make complete meals outside of their home kitchens. Ace Hardware spokesperson and grilling expert Chef Jason Morse calls in to preview his Potato Expo 2024 talk about how companies are responding to increased demand for products to help consumers mimic the viral grilling recipes they’ve seen on Instagram and TikTok. Guest: Chef Jason Morse, CEC, National Spokesperson, Grilling Expert, Ace Hardware This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore us.com/spud-doctor/">syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.  

Potatoes USA is at the forefront of promoting healthy lifestyles and culinary excellence with the versatile potato. Chef RJ Harvey calls in to preview the Potato Expo 2024 session that will explore how potatoes can be prepared to cater to unique needs and preferences, including “Food as Medicine” advocates, foodservice operators, home cooks, and the ever-evolving Generation Z.   Guest: Chef RJ Harvey, RDN, CEC, Culinary Director, Potatoes USA This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore us.com/spud-doctor/">syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.  

Potato growers and industry partners from around the world will descend on the Austin Convention Center, Jan. 10-11, for Potato Expo 2024, which will tap into all things Texas, with barbeque, music, culture, and a heavy dose of potatoes.

Hosted annually by the National Potato Council, Potato Expo is the largest conference and trade show for the potato industry in North America, bringing together U.S. and international growers, suppliers, industry experts, and value chain partners all under one roof. Kam Quarles, NPC CEO, and Hollee Alexander, NPC VP of Industry Relations & Events, called into the Eye On Potatoes podcast to talk about the already record-breaking Potato Expo 2024 and what the international potato industry can look forward to in Austin. Learn more and register to join us at potato-expo.com. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore us.com/spud-doctor/">syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.  

A 10-time Potato Expo attendee and frequent stage speaker, Cedric Porter, editor of World Potato Markets, called into the Eye on Potatoes podcast to discuss the state of European and global potato markets, processing trends across the world, and his love of all things potatoes.Cedric previewed his upcoming presentation for the Potato Business Summit, Jan. 10 in Austin, Texas, during which he’ll discuss the remarkable post-pandemic growth in the global demand for potatoes and potato products. Follow him at @CedricP.This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore us.com/spud-doctor/">syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.  

To support the U.S. potato industry in its three-decade-old effort to open Japan's market to U.S. fresh potatoes, National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles and Bryant Christie, Inc.’s Matt Lantz traveled to Japan in late September to offer their expertise during U.S.-Japan plant health technical meetings. Kam and Matt called into the Eye on Potatoes podcast to report on the trip and the ongoing political roadblocks erected by Japanese regulators to prevent competition with their domestic potato growers.  Although the U.S. has had market access to Japan for chipping potatoes since 2006, the U.S. is seeking market access for all fresh potatoes, including table stock potatoes. Already the second largest market for U.S. potatoes, Japan’s market for U.S. fresh potato exports is estimated at $150 million to $200 million annually, once fully opened. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore us.com/spud-doctor/">syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.  

With Rep. Kevin McCarthy out as Speaker of the House, National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles calls into the Eye On Potatoes podcast to discuss how the move could impact growers, the future of the stalled FY24 Ag Appropriations Bill, and how the ag community needs to rally behind passing a bipartisan Farm Bill before the end of the year. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore us.com/spud-doctor/">syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.  

This week we chatted about the formulation of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and how the U.S. potato industry is working to ensure that the positive facts about potato nutrition are heard by those creating the guidelines.

We were joined by NPC CEO Kam Quarles who submitted testimony to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which is charged with reviewing the current body of nutrition science and developing a scientific report for HHS and USDA to consider as it writes the 2025 DGAs. We were also joined by Beth Johnson, who has spent over 25 years as a food policy expert, both inside and outside of government, including at the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Senate Agriculture Committee, and the National Restaurant Association. While at USDA, she helped lead the department’s work in creating the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. She’s the Founder and Principal of Food Directions, which helps organizations and companies operating in a global food policy environment. She and her team at Food Directions have been working closely with NPC to tell the positive potato story. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore us.com/spud-doctor/">syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.