Eye on Potatoes: A Podcast on All Things Potatoes

One week after the 2024 General Election, there's a lot we know (and even more we don't know) about the prospect for pro-potato and pro-agriculture policy efforts in 2025 and beyond. Calling into the Eye on Potatoes Podcast this week was Randy Russell, President of The Russell Group, and NPC CEO Kam Quarles to talk about the impact of rural voters in the election and what a new Trump Administration and a GOP-controlled Congress could mean for the Farm Bill, ag labor reform, trade opportunities, and other policy priorities. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

NPC CEO Kam Quarles and trade consultant Matt Lantz from Bryant Christie, Inc. traveled to Japan this week to advance the industry’s trade priority of gaining market access for U.S. fresh potatoes. The pair called in to report on their meeting with U.S. officials at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to urge their support to gain access to the $150 million market. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

Research is a critical tool as we work to feed a growing population here in the U.S. and around the world. During each NPC Washington Summit, the National Potato Council, along with growers and state partners, head to Capitol Hill to educate lawmakers about the importance of funding key research programs. Joining the discussion is NPC CEO Kam Quarles and the state manager from Michigan, Kelly Turner, the Executive Director of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission, to talk about the importance of research and how it is helping America’s potato growers produce more with less. Guests: Kam Quarles, CEO, NPCKelly Turner, Executive Director, Michigan Potato Industry CommissionThis podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

With portions of the Farm Bill starting to expire and a federal shutdown looming should Congress fail to act by Oct. 1, NPC CEO Kam Quarles called into the Eye on Potatoes podcast to talk about the big issues that need to be addressed before the general election. Also, with representatives from USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) scheduled to host plant health technical bilateral meetings with their Japanese counterparts in Idaho Falls, Kam talks about how he and others from the U.S. potato industry are pushing to finally open Japan's market for U.S. fresh potatoes. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

The Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) recently announced Sylvia (Xiuyan) Zhang, a Ph.D. student at the University of Maine, as the recipient of the organization’s 2024-25 Academic Scholarship. We sat down with Sylvia to talk about her background growing up in Inner Mongolia, often referred to as the "potato capital of China," and her research, which is focused on the dynamic behavior of bacterial species that cause potato blackleg and soft rot disease, as well as the influence of potato storage conditions on pathogen infection. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

Japan is a significant market for U.S. processed potatoes, but as we’ve discussed a few times on this program, no U.S. fresh potatoes are allowed in Japan. The U.S. potato industry has been seeking approval to ship U.S. fresh potatoes into this significant market for over 20 years but the Japanese government continues to drag its heels. However, on Sept. 16, USDA and their counterparts in Japan are taking part in a bilateral meeting in Idaho Falls to discuss this issue. NPC CEO Kam Quarles and Sam Eaton Vice President of Legal & Government Affairs at the Idaho Potato Commission called in to the podcast to talk about what’s happening next month and how the potato industry and their allies in Congress are keeping the pressure on both USDA and Japan. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

It’s been a year since we last checked in on the potato wart situation in Prince Edward Island, Canada. This week, we sat down with Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council, and Don Flannery, Executive Director of the Maine Potato Board, to talk about the U.S. potato industry's ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of wart to the United States. The group also talked about the release of a bipartisan letter by members of the U.S. Senate urging USDA to implement additional mitigation measures to prevent the introduction of PEI potato wart into U.S. growing areas.This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

For this week's Eye on Potatoes Podcast, we caught up with Matt Lantz and Adam Hollowell from Bryant Christie, Inc., who are in D.C. for a meeting of the American Potato Trade Alliance. Matt and Adam talk about how APTA was created, their role with the organization, and how the alliance is helping the U.S. potato industry speak with a unified voice on trade issues. Guests: Matt Lantz, Senior Vice President of Global Access, Bryant Christie, IncAdam Hollowell, Senior Trade Policy Specialist, Bryant Christie, IncThis podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

NPC CEO Kam Quarles joined Eye on Potatoes podcast host Lane Nordlund to discuss the House version of the 2024 Farm Bill, which was passed by the House Agriculture Committee in the early hours of Friday morning, and NPC’s efforts to urge Congress to finalize a bipartisan bill by the end of the year. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

During Potato Expo 2024, Lane Nordlund, host of the Eye on Potatoes Podcast, sat down with the leaders of three national potato organizations for a conversation on how they are working to promote the health of the U.S. potato industry and supporting growers and partners up and down the supply chain. Panelists: Mark Klompien, President and CEO, United Potato Growers of AmericaKam Quarles, CEO, National Potato CouncilBlair Richardson, President and CEO, Potatoes USAThis podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

Just when you thought NPC's efforts to keep potatoes defined as a vegetable couldn't gain more media attention, in comes Jimmy Fallon, who provided a light-hearted overview of the issue in the opening monologue of a recent Tonight Show.  NPC CEO Kam Quarles and podcast host Lane Nordlund sat down to talk about NPC's efforts to protect potatoes in the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the ongoing negotiations to open Japan's market to U.S. fresh potatoes, and if we can see a Farm Bill passed this year. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

The rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence is focused on building smart machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. Companies within and outside agriculture are adapting AI to their operations to improve efficiency and productivity. During Potato Expo 2024, the Eye on Potatoes podcast welcomed one of the leaders of KUNGFU.AI, which helps clients transform themselves into AI-first companies.Guest: Ron Green, KUNGFU.AI Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

Steve Lerch is a former Google executive, a consultant, and an award-winning international speaker. He spent nearly a decade at Google designing digital strategies and marketing campaigns for well-known brands like GoPro, federal government agencies like the US Census, and respected non-profits like the YMCA. Steve has recently specialized in the food and agriculture industry, working with everyone from Avocados from Mexico to John Deer to National Beef.Steve returned to the Eye on Potatoes Podcast during Potato Expo 2024 to talk about the importance of creating digital content and the power of social media and viral videos to keep potatoes top of mind for all consumers.This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

UPDATE: Due to scheduled construction at The Mirage Las Vegas, the National Potato Council moved the location of Potato Expo 2025 to the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 9-10, 2025.---After more than 20 years and numerous legal challenges, the Mexican market was opened to U.S. fresh potatoes in 2022. Nearly two years later, NPC, Potatoes USA, and the industry’s top trade consultants at Bryant Christie, Inc. came together at Potato Expo 2024 to assess where things are, how far they need to go, and the challenges in realizing the potential of this valuable export market.Guests:Kim Breshears, Chief Marketing Officer, Potatoes USAMatt Lantz, Vice President, Global Access, Bryant Christie, Inc.Ted Tschirky, NPC VP of Trade Affairs, Potato Grower, Pasco, WashingtonKam Quarles, CEO, National Potato CouncilThis podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

During Potato Expo 2024, National Potato Council 2023 President RJ Andrus and First Vice President Bob Mattive sat down to reflect on their time on the Executive Committee and preview some of the top policy priorities for the upcoming NPC Washington Summit, Feb. 26- March 1, 2024. RJ Andrus of Idaho Falls, Idaho, is a third-generation farmer and an owner of TBR Farms located in Hamer, Idaho. He has served on the Executive Committee since 2019, in roles including Vice President of Grower Outreach and Industry Research, and as Vice President of Legislative Affairs. In addition to serving on the National Potato Council as First Vice President and Vice President of Environmental Affairs, Bob Mattive serves on several Colorado agricultural committees and boards. The 2,000-acre Worley Family Farms is run by Bob, his wife Gail (Worley), along with their sons Grant and Reid and nephew Matthew Smartt.This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

The Farm Bill expired in September 2023, and the dysfunction in Washington, D.C. continues to threaten this essential rewrite of our nation’s farm policy. Risk management, export promotion, pest and disease prevention, nutrition policy and numerous other programs that make growers competitive are tied up in political infighting. During Potato Expo 2024, Kam Quarles of National Potato Council and Tyson Redpath of The Russell Group sat down to talk about how we got here, where we might be going, and what growers can do to break the impasse on Capitol Hill.Guests: ●        Kam Quarles, CEO, National Potato Council●        Tyson Redpath, Principal, The Russell GroupThis podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

U.S. potato production is weather-sensitive and risk associated with adverse weather can derail a well-managed operation very quickly. During Potato Expo 2024, we sat down with Andrew Pritchard, Senior Meteorologist at Nutrien, to discuss how weather over the last 70 years has impacted potato production and what weather patterns are the best and worst for growing potatoes. Andrew also discussed the different types of weather risks and previewed the weather storylines to watch for in 2024.Guest: Andrew Pritchard, Senior Meteorologist, NutrienThis podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

More Americans than ever before are firing up their grills, smokers, or flattops (sometimes all at the same time!) to make complete meals outside of their home kitchens. Ace Hardware spokesperson and grilling expert Chef Jason Morse calls in to preview his Potato Expo 2024 talk about how companies are responding to increased demand for products to help consumers mimic the viral grilling recipes they’ve seen on Instagram and TikTok. Guest: Chef Jason Morse, CEC, National Spokesperson, Grilling Expert, Ace Hardware This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

Potatoes USA is at the forefront of promoting healthy lifestyles and culinary excellence with the versatile potato. Chef RJ Harvey calls in to preview the Potato Expo 2024 session that will explore how potatoes can be prepared to cater to unique needs and preferences, including “Food as Medicine” advocates, foodservice operators, home cooks, and the ever-evolving Generation Z.   Guest: Chef RJ Harvey, RDN, CEC, Culinary Director, Potatoes USA This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.

Potato growers and industry partners from around the world will descend on the Austin Convention Center, Jan. 10-11, for Potato Expo 2024, which will tap into all things Texas, with barbeque, music, culture, and a heavy dose of potatoes.Hosted annually by the National Potato Council, Potato Expo is the largest conference and trade show for the potato industry in North America, bringing together U.S. and international growers, suppliers, industry experts, and value chain partners all under one roof. Kam Quarles, NPC CEO, and Hollee Alexander, NPC VP of Industry Relations & Events, called into the Eye On Potatoes podcast to talk about the already record-breaking Potato Expo 2024 and what the international potato industry can look forward to in Austin. Learn more and register to join us at potato-expo.com. This podcast is possible thanks to our presenting sponsor, Syngenta. Delivering solutions to help producers face the potato industry's complex challenges, Syngenta provides growers with unmatched field expertise along with an array of effective products. Explore syngenta-us.com/spud-doctor to discover solutions for your potato-growing obstacles.