The potato R&P program operates as the National Potato Promotion Board and conducts business as Potatoes USA. The program maintains and expands existing markets and develops new markets for potatoes and potato products. The program is administered under AMS oversight by Potatoes USA, which is composed of potato producers, importers and a public member. Producers and importers are nominated by their peers and the public member is nominated by the Board. All are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.
The board launches impactful marketing campaigns; coordinates regional, national and international market production research; and establishes new trade markets. The board promotes the benefits of potatoes to audience across the globe, including consumers, foodservice operators, retailers and health professional. The activities are funded by an assessment of 3 cents per hundredweight (cwt.) on potatoes produced in and imported into the United States. Producers of less than five acres of potatoes are exempt from assessment. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection collects assessments on imported tablestock and seed potatoes and potato products. The Board reimburses the Federal government for program administration costs.
On March 9, 1972, the Potato Research and Promotion Plan became effective, creating the program under the authority of the Potato Research and Promotion Act (pdf). View Potato Research and Promotion Federal Register History.
Organizational Structure
The Board has 80 members and is composed of producers, importers, and a public member. Each state is entitled to at least one member. States are entitled to additional members if annual state production exceeds 10 million cwt. of potatoes. Two importer members may be on the Board, one member for each 10 million cwt., or major fraction thereof, of imported tablestock, seed potatoes, and potato products. The public member is nominated by the Board.
You can access a listing of current Board members and committees on the National Potato Promotion Board website.
AMS Policy on Board Diversity: AMS’s 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 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.
Visit the National Potato Promotion Board's website >
Organic Assessment Exemption
R&P programs allow persons that produce, handle, market, process, manufacture, feed or import “organic” and “100 percent organic” products to be exempt from paying assessments regardless of whether they are a “split” operation.
Contacts
Director: Michelle Sharrow
Email: Michelle.Sharrow@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-8085
Deputy Director: Sue Coleman
Email: Sue.Coleman@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 378-2569
Branch Chief: Alexandra Caryl
Email: Alexandra.Caryl@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-8085