- NPC Applauds White Potatoes’ Inclusion in Proposed WIC Updates
- NPC Washington Summit: Nominating Committee Report and Flow
- 2023 Potato Industry Leadership Institute Begins in New York
- New Podcast: Potato Growers Get Ready for the 2023 Washington Summit
- Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Hosts Media Roundtable
- Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance Releases Farm Bill Policy Recommendations
- NPC 2023 Grower Supporter Campaign Underway. Sign up today!
| |
|
NPC Applauds White Potatoes’ Inclusion in Proposed WIC Updates
NPC submitted comments to USDA on Tuesday in response to their proposed revisions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). In November, the Department announced proposed changes that would affirm the eligibility of white potatoes in the program. The proposal would serve to codify the requirements as mandated by Congress in 2015 that prevented USDA from excluding white potatoes from the program.
In the comments, NPC wrote that it is supportive of USDA’s approach to better align the WIC food package with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which encourages the consumption of more fruits and vegetables.
NPC also requested that in the final rule USDA: finalize the rule without any limitations on the eligibility of white potatoes in the program; require state agencies to authorize fruits and vegetables in “all forms;” allow all fresh fruits and vegetables regardless of package size to be purchased through WIC vouchers; consider flexible approaches to increase vegetable intake through permitting small amounts of additives in vegetable products; and provide WIC education focused on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.
“Potatoes are an important vegetable in the American diet, which is why NPC members are pleased to provide them as a WIC-eligible vegetable,” wrote the organization. “As a highly versatile and cost-effective vegetable, potatoes play a valuable role in meeting nutritional needs of WIC mothers and children.”
The full comments are available here.
| |
|
NPC Washington Summit: Nominating Committee Report and Flow
First held last year as a combined meeting of the former Annual Meeting and Potato DC Fly-in, the NPC Washington Summit provides a forum for potato industry members to discuss, define, and advocate for the policy priorities impacting their businesses and protecting their ability to farm.
At the Summit, new leadership will be elected and the NEWLY appointed Board of Directors and Committee Members will be the individuals seated for the committee meetings. This structure allows for a more engaged meeting, as newly seated Board Members will participate immediately.
2022 Board Members who are not remaining on the Board are still encouraged to attend the Washington Summit, where they can serve as Voting Delegates and participate in legislative activities throughout the week.
The NPC business meeting portion of the 2023 NPC Washington Summit will look as follows:
| |
|
2023 Officer Elections
At the Annual Meeting of the Voting Delegates being held on Monday, February 27 from 6:30-8:30pm ET, the Nominating Committee will present the following slate of officers. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor.
RJ Andrus, Idaho Falls, Idaho - President
Bob Mattive, Monte Vista, Colo. - First Vice President and Vice President, Environmental Affairs
Ted Tschirky, Pasco, Wash. - Vice President, Trade Affairs
Ben Sklarczyk, Johannesburg, Mich. - Vice President, Finance
Dean Gibson, Paul, Idaho - Vice President, Legislative Affairs
TJ Hall, Edinburg, ND - Vice President, Grower Outreach and Industry Relations
Jared Balcom, Pasco, Wash. - Immediate Past President
| |
|
2023 Potato Industry Leadership Institute Begins in New York
The 2023 class of the Potato Industry Leadership Institute kicked off earlier this week in Niagara Falls with Mike Phillips (pictured), the Grower Leader selected from the 2022 class, sharing his experiences within the industry since being a participant a year ago.
Phillips shared with the group that, “Being a part of the leadership program has allowed me to use the leadership skills I was able to develop to be actively engaged with in the industry. From cooking on stage at Potato Expo 2023 to serving on the Michigan Potato Industry Commission, the tools and techniques I learned have hopefully represent our farm operation and industry at a higher level.”
The class is touring agricultural operations through New York and Pennsylvania on their way to Washington, D.C., including spending time in Gettysburg learning about leadership skills used there on the battlefield. They will join the participants of the NPC Washington Summit to educate members of Congress on issues of importance to the U.S. potato industry.
| |
|
New Podcast: Potato Growers Get Ready for the 2023 Washington Summit
Each year as the blossoms start their bloom, U.S. potato growers descend on Washington, D.C. to advocate for federal policies that support their farms and businesses. To preview next week’s 2023 Washington Summit, NPC CEO Kam Quarles sat down with Eye on Potatoes Podcast host Lane Nordlund to talk about the issues that growers will be taking to their Members of Congress and to Administration officials, as well as the release of a groundbreaking analysis of the economic contributions of the U.S. potato industry.
Download and subscribe to the Eye on Potatoes Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Other
| |
|
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Hosts Media Roundtable
On Thursday, the co-chairs of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (CFPA) – Mike Joyner, President of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers; and Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council, as well as Robert Guenther, Chief Public Policy Officer for International Fresh Produce Association – hosted a media roundtable at NPC’s office to discuss their Farm Bill policy recommendations with reporters.
Phillip Brasher, Executive Editor of the publication Agri-Pulse, wrote after the meeting that, “Specialty crop producers are looking to the next farm bill to expand crop insurance options and provide increased funding to address a number of challenges facing the sector, including needs for faster automation and development of alternative pesticides.”
He also noted that the SCFBA is seeking an investment in automation due to the high cost and availability of labor for specialty crop producers. “The alliance wants $20 million a year for a new automation research initiative aimed at developing technology that would benefit all scales of production and also be ‘cost appropriate.’ To help growers afford new technology, the alliance also is proposing to set up a program at USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service to reimburse producers for a portion of equipment costs.” The full story is available here (subscription required).
During the roundtable, the co-chairs emphasized that investments in the competitiveness and sustainability of the U.S. specialty crop industry will produce a strong return for all Americans, not just farmers. The SCFBA’s 2023 Farm Bill recommendations, released in early February, represent the most comprehensive set of ideas from the coalition to date, including 109 specific recommendations covering eight Farm Bill titles. For more information about the SCFBA, visit farmbillalliance.com.
| |
|
Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance Releases Farm Bill Policy Recommendations
With the goal of supporting food, agriculture, and forestry sectors in their sustainability efforts while preserving and creating new economic opportunities, the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) on Wednesday released its policy recommendations for the 2023 farm bill.
“Further reducing emissions throughout agricultural and forestry supply chains will require a comprehensive effort involving financial and technical assistance, research investments, proactive response to innovation, public-private partnerships and a commitment to equitable opportunities for all producers,” wrote the alliance, of which NPC is a member.
“FACA’s past recommendations have provided guidance to Members of Congress and Administration officials and have been credited with shaping federal laws and programs. We now urge both chambers of Congress and the President to act this year to pass a farm bill that advances voluntary bipartisan climate solutions,” the group concluded. For the full policy recommendations, click here.
| |
|
NPC 2023 Grower Supporter Campaign Underway. Sign up today!
NPC’s annual Grower Supporter campaign provides resources to promote and protect the potato industry’s interest in Washington, D.C. Click here to register your support for NPC and join the 2023 Grower Supporter campaign today to help amplify the potato industry’s voice in Washington, D.C. The campaign will run through April 14, sign up today!
| | | | |
