Release No.: 104-13

Contact:

Pam Stanziani (202) 720-8998

Pamela.stanziani@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations for the United States Potato Board (Board). The Board is composed of producers, importers and a public member, with approximately one-third of the Board appointed each year.

Prospective nominees must submit completed applications by July 1, 2013. Appointees will serve a three-year term. Nominations of producer members are submitted by producers in the various states, importers nominate for importer members and the Board nominates for the public member. Producers must produce five or more acres of potatoes to be eligible to serve. The appointees will replace members whose terms expire February 28, 2014 as well as fill currently vacant seats.

The Board is looking to fill 59 producer seats in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Board is also looking to fill three importer and one public member positions.

USDA encourages board membership that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the research and promotion programs. All eligible women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to seek nomination for a seat on the United States Potato Board.

The United States Potato Board meets regularly to plan promotion, marketing and research activities that benefit the industry. The national program, which became effective in 1971, is industry-funded and supports domestic and international marketing and promotion of potatoes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service oversees board’s activities to ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating industry stakeholders.

For more information or a nomination form, please contact Alexandra Imhof, United States Potato Board Industry Communications and Policy Manager, by phone at (303) 369-7783, or by email at: agrimm@uspotatoes.com.

Visit the United States Potato Board’s website at www.uspotatoes.com for more information about the Board.

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