Eye on Potatoes: A Podcast on All Things Potatoes Eye on Potatoes

For the first time in 25 years, U.S. fresh potatoes crossed into Mexico on May 11 destined for markets beyond the previous 26-kilometer restricted area. The news signaled the start of Mexico’s process to restore full market access for U.S. potatoes after decades of disputes and legal obstructions.

NPC CEO Kam Quarles joined the podcast to talk about the unwavering, bipartisan support from Capitol Hill, USDA, and USTR required to restore U.S. fresh potato access, and the work moving forward to ensure the border remains open.

The Eye on Potatoes Podcast is made possible by 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.

Each year, the Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI) brings together outstanding potato growers and industry representatives for eight days of training and professional development, starting in a potato growing region and concluding in Washington, D.C. when the class links up with participants of the NPC Washington Summit.

During the 2022 Washington Summit, Eye On Potatoes hosted a live podcast recording with PILI alumnus and 2022 Grower-leader Doug Posthuma from Wisconsin, 2022 PILI attendee Bevan Lenz from Colorado, and Potato LEAF Vice President Mike Wenkel to talk about their personal leadership growth and value the program delivers to the industry.

For more on PILI, visit pleaf.org.

The Eye on Potatoes Podcast is made possible by 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.

Sustainability and climate change continue to be a part of the conversation, both in policy discussions and within the potato supply chain. During Potato Expo 2022, we sat down with two of the industry's sustainability leaders who are working to ensure the potato industry remains at the front of agriculture’s sustainability success story.

Guests: 
John Mesko, Executive Director, Potato Sustainability AllianceMike Wenkel, COO, National Potato CouncilThe Eye on Potatoes Podcast is made possible by 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.

Fresh off his election as NPC's 2022 President, Jared Balcom of Pasco, Washington, along with NPC VP of Legislative Affairs RJ Andrus of Idaho Falls, Idaho, sat down during the Washington Summit to talk about the council's 2022 policy agenda and the power of growers speaking with one voice to Stand Up for Potatoes on Capitol Hill.

The Eye on Potatoes Podcast is made possible by 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 more than 25 years, Amy Walter has built a reputation as an accurate, objective, and insightful political analyst with unparalleled access to campaign insiders and decision-makers. Before her NPC Washington Summit keynote address, Amy sat down with Eye on Potato host Lane Nordlund to provide a sneak peek into the issues, trends and events that are shaping today’s tumultuous political environment.

Guest: Amy Walter, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Cook Political Report with Amy Walter

The Eye on Potatoes Podcast is made possible by 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.

Food insecurity, climate change, and sustainability are not words typically associated with the nutritional value of food. Even so, as USDA sets the stage to write their next Dietary Guidelines, activists are pushing to expand the federal government’s definition what “nutrition” could mean to policymakers and consumers. At Potato Expo 2022, top experts in food policy sat down to talk about how anti-potato activists are trying to influence nutrition policy – and what the industry is doing to head them off at the pass.

Guests: 
Allie Graham, MS, RDN, Senior Director, Food Policy & Global Regulatory Affairs, Food Directions Robert Guenther, Chief Public Policy Officer, International Fresh Produce Association The Eye on Potatoes Podcast is made possible by 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.