Potatoes USA, the Denver, Colorado-headquartered marketing and promotion board for the nation’s potato industry, elected new leadership during its recent annual meeting, with Mike Carter of Rosholt, Wisconsin (seated third from left in above picture) named chairman of the board for 2023-24.
The chairman, a 25-year veteran of the potato industry, chief executive officer and co-owner of Bushmans’ Inc., has contributed expertise to the board for a decade. He has been a member of the executive committee for six years, taking on co-chair responsibilities for the International Marketing, Domestic Marketing and Industry Outreach Committees.
Carter is enthusiastic about developing a long-term strategy that will establish the direction and framework for the industry’s future in the midst of a rapidly changing global landscape. He is eager to engage in discussions with members of the international potato community, starting with an upcoming visit to Poland to meet with fellow growers to promote the advantages of potatoes on a global scale.
In addition to Carter, Potatoes USA’s 2023-2024 Executive Committee members include:
• Les Alderete of Monte Vista, Colorado, Co-Chair of the Domestic Marketing Committee
• Trever Belnap of Hamer, Idaho, Co-Chair of the Research Committee
• Jennifer Gogan of Houlton, Maine, Co-Chair of the Research Committee
• Leah Halverson of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Co-Chair of the Domestic Marketing Committee
• Jeff Jennings of Camden, North Carolina, Chair of the Finance & Policy Committee
• Mike Larsen of Declo, Idaho, Co-Chair of the International Marketing Committee
• Shelley Olsen of Othello, Washington, Co-Chair of the International Marketing Committee
• Ed Staunton of Tulelake, California, Co-Chair of the Industry Outreach Committee
• Dennis Wright of Kennewick, Washington, Co-Chair of the Industry Outreach Committee
• Jason Davenport of Bakersfield, California, Past Chair
As a marketing organization representing approximately 2,000 potato farming families in the United States, Potatoes USA promotes frozen potato products as well as fresh table-stock spuds, chipping, seed and dehydrated potatoes. Established in 1971 by a group of potato farmers to promote the benefits of eating potatoes, today it ranks as the largest vegetable commodity board in America.
