Jimmie Turner (202) 720-8998jimmie.turner@ams.usda.govBilly Cox (202) 720-8998billy.cox@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, March 19, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack today appointed 23 producer members, 3 importer members and one public member to serve on the National Potato Promotion Board for the term beginning March 1, 2010, and ending Feb. 28, 2013.
Reappointed to the board as producer members are: Kevin C. Johnston, Bakersfield, Calif.; Sidney W. Staunton, Tulelake, Calif.; Monty L. Smith, Blanca, Colo.; Rodney Lenz, Wray, Colo.; Carl M. Ball, Hamer, Idaho; John J. Harper, Mountain Home, Idaho; James Hoff, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Brent J. Stoker, Burley, Idaho; Larry R. Jensen, Mount Vernon, Wash.; Albert Stahl, Ritzville, Wash.; Kevin Weber, Moses Lake, Wash.; and John M. Grose, Terra Alta, W.Va.
Dale Beck, Twin Falls, Idaho, was reappointed as an importer member.
The following newly appointed producer members are: Brian Kirschenmann, Bakersfield, Calif.; Kurt Holland, Monte Vista, Colo.; Jared Wattenbarger, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Bruce Roope, Presque Isle, Maine; Keith Doyen, Mapleton, Maine; Diane M. Hanson, Cornell, Mich.; Steve Cottom, Dillon, Mont.; Martin D. Myers, Lake Oswego, Ore.; Nolan L. Masser, Pitman, Pa.; Marvin J. Wollman, Warden Wash; and Gary Hansen, Stevens Point, Wis.
Edward H.P. Barnhill, Winter Garden, Fla., and Vernon M. Thomas, New Brunswick, Canada, are newly appointed importer members. Mary Streett DeMers, Sophia, N.C., is the newly appointed public member.
Authorized under the 1971 Potato Research and Promotion Act, the National Potato Promotion Board is composed of producers, importers and a public member appointed by the Secretary.
Producer members are nominated at state and local producer meetings and by mail ballot. Each state is entitled to at least one producer member, and additional members are allotted on the basis of the volume of production. Importer members are nominated by importers, and the number of members – up to a maximum of five – is related to the volume of imports.
The Potato Board administers an industry-funded national research and promotion program to increase U.S. exports and domestic potato consumption.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service monitors the operations of the board. More information about the research and promotion programs is available at www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion.
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