b'AnInsideLookAtThePotatoIndustry Leadership Institute ThePotatoIndustryLeadershipautomatedport,andthey Institute(PILI)washeldFebruaryareworkingonbecoming 23rd thru March 4th this year. Ourtheworldsmostadvance attendee from the Valley was Carissaand greenest container ter-Olsen, President and CEO of Nokotaminal. PackersofBuxton,NorthDakota.She takes us inside the program and- That evening we traveled to gives us an inside perspective.Bakersfieldforsupperat Buck Owens Crystal Palace This program is administered by the great food and line danc-National Potato Council (NPC) anding! Potatoes,USA.Itidentifiesandtrains the next generation of indus- Friday, February 25th try leaders.FullDayofToursin Bakersfield,California.We ThePILIparticipantstravelfromtouredAlliedPotato,they potatogrowingregionsacrossthespecializeinexporting US to attend industry training andchippingpotatoesyear professional development.round.We were able to seeShips waiting to dock at the port.their facility and also tour aing to see how similar the process Wednesday, February 23rd couple of their potato fields. I cantforreceiving,sortingandstoring WeflewintoLAXandtraveledtosay I have ever seen oranges or anthis was to potatoes.I love seeing Long Beach (Full Travel Day).oil rig near or in a potato field! Theythe different commodities and howhadonefieldthathasnothadathe process works.Thursday, February 24throtation crop planted in 50 years Thatmorningwastheintrotoall potatoes, every year!Thateveningwetraveledbackto group, presentations about NationalLos Angeles.PotatoCouncil,PotatoesUSAandTheniswasontoTastefulPotatoLEAFprograms,andSelections,theyspecializeinbite- Saturday, February 26thBusiness Skills Training.sizepotatoes.TheyoffermultipleFullDayoftraveltoWashingtonvarietiesandpacksofthisuniqueDC.Thateveningwetookinthe In the afternoon we visited the Portsize of potatoes.Their automationMonuments by Midnight Tour. This ofLongBeach,wetookthefairyandprocessismassiveandtrulywas an amazing way to see some of into the Long Beach Port, seeing theamazing.the most historic places in the city.ships waiting to come in, in line toThetourincludedatrollyride dockandundock.WetouredtheThentheGarlicCompany,theywherewecouldgetonandoffat LongBeachContainerTerminaloffer whole bulb and freshly peeled,eachlocationforaquickwalk officesandgotabusandwalkingdiced, sliced, chopped and mincedaround.We stopped at the National tour of the terminal.LBCT is a fullygarlic product.It was very interest- World War II Memorial, Washington APRIL 2022 POTATO GROWER 23'