U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson on Congressional Relief for Family Farms

05/29/20 • 29 min

Eye on Potatoes: A Podcast on All Things Potatoes

As potato growers continue to reel from the COVID-19 pandemic fallout, Congressman Mike Simpson and the entire Idaho Congressional delegation are championing policy solutions to support the nation's struggling potato industry. Congressman Simpson joins the podcast to discuss the role Congress needs to play as the industry works to dig out from a 1.5 billion pound oversupply of 2019 potatoes stuck in the supply chain and seeks meaningful direct payment relief to keep family farms in business.
Also, National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles calls in from D.C. to discuss the $300 million in additional potato purchases the industry needs to help bring supply and demand back into balance.
Guests:

U.S. Representative Mike Simpson (R-Idaho)
NPC CEO Kam Quarles

U.S. Representative Mike Simpson (R-Idaho)
NPC CEO Kam Quarles

Previous Episode

Telling the Potato Sustainability Success Story

In early 2020, the potato industry launched the Potato Sustainability Alliance (PSA) to support the efforts of growers to adapt potato production practices that align with consumer and market expectations. During Potato Expo 2020, we sat down with some of the industry's leaders for a discussion on the cooperative work to support, advance, and communicate potato sustainability across the supply chain.
Guests:
Tommy Jackson, Sustainable Solutions Account Manager at Syngenta USA
Tammy McElroy, Senior Director Sustainability, Sysco
Jolyn Rasmussen, Raw Product Development and Sustainability, JR Simplot
Laura Scandurra, Executive Director, Potato Sustainability Alliance
Ed Schneider, Partner, Schneider Farms, Washington
Mike Wenkel, Chief Operating Officer, National Potato Council

Next Episode

Potato LEAF and Developing Tomorrow's Leaders

The Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (LEAF) is a new 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing the tools, training, and support necessary to develop growers and industry members as leaders. Joining the podcast is Shelley Olsen of LJ Olsen, Inc. in Othello, Wash., and Chair of Potato LEAF to talk about how the industry is coming together to grow leaders who will thrive in the competitive global marketplace of the future.
Plus, NPC CEO Kam Quarles provides an update on NPC's efforts to support growers as the nation works to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.