Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/22221
FROM THE BOARD by David Fraser, VP Industry Communications & Policy Bringing the USPB To You Getting out of the office LAST MONTH, we reported the United States Potato Board’s Fiscal Year 2012– 2016 Long Range Plan surveys, conducted by Industry Communications last summer, concluded 92 percent of respondents felt they are adequately informed about the programs of the USPB to build long-term demand for potatoes and potato products. And while we were pleased with this result, there were still a number of things the industry told us we could do better. 1) New Look—Oct. 4 saw the official launch of the new uspotatoes.com. 2) Industry Update—The Oct. 20 issue of our bi-weekly e-newsletter became a new headlines-only format, with stories more clearly grouped by production sector. 3) U.S. Potato Update—Debuting July 7, and airing within the popular “Farm & Ranch Report,” produced by the Northwest Ag Information Network’s Bob Hoff, and broadcast every Wednesday on 29 stations throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. If you don’t grow pota- toes in Washington, Oregon or Idaho, sim- ply visit the U.S. Potato Update Archives to hear every U.S. Potato Update aired. This month we would like to share how we intend to “bring the USPB to you.” State Winter Meetings & Trade Shows Beginning Nov. 2010 in Montana and continuing throughout January and February 2011, USPB Executive Committee members and staff will attend and present at every state winter meeting and trade show. There is nothing like visit- ing with growers one-on-one, face-to-face. We highly value this time, so when you see us this month and next, please stop by and visit our booth. “Feet in the Field” One-on-one contact, we believe, is so important we’ve taken the idea of visiting with you at the winter meetings one step further. In the fall of 2009, we informally began visiting growers on their farms dur- ing harvest. Since you’re busy, we don’t want to get in your way, so we’ll jump on the tractor with you or hop in the truck and visit while you continue work- ing. We expanded this program last fall www.potatogrower.com 77 to include more staff than just Industry Communications staff. It also now includes Finance and Domestic Marketing staff. This spring, we will continue work- ing with state staff to come visit you on your farm. So don’t be surprised if you get a phone call asking if we can swing by, but please don’t stop working, as we’ll just jump right in with whatever you are doing. Your USPB staff thinks it’s impor- tant for us to get out of the office and better understand what you do and what’s important to you, so we look forward to expanding this program in the future. Ensuring the industry remains fully informed of how your USPB is investing to build long-term global demand for U.S. pota- toes is an important aspect of what we do. Please contact me at (303) 873-2314 or by emailing david.fraser@uspotatoes. com. We look forward to visiting with you this month and next and maybe on your farm this spring or fall. PG