The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for the National Potato Promotion Board to fill 33 board seats with terms beginning March 1, 2025. Nominations are due to the board by August 15, 2024.
Nominations for producer members are submitted by potato producers in various states, with importers nominating importers. Nominees are requested to succeed members in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and a public member for the term ending February 29, 2028.
Nominees are additionally requested to succeed members in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming for the term ending February 28, 2027.
For election and nomination information, contact your state program manager or Chelsea Gray at (303) 369-7783 or at Chelsea@potatoesusa.com. You may also contact Deanna Bakken at (202) 720-8085 or Deanna.Bakken@usda.gov.
AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight to 22 boards. The oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity and is paid for by industry assessments.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender