b'People, Product NewsPotato Growers Select 2022Committee holds office for one cal- Supply chain challenges and infla-National Potato Council Leadersendar year.tions impact on the potato indus-Washingtons Jared Balcom try. elected 2022 President NPC delegates also approved: DuringtheNationalPotato RJ Andrus, Idaho Falls, Idaho - First Enhancing the U.S. potato indus-Councils(NPC)2022WashingtonVicePresidentandVicePresident,try through proactive trade policies. Summit,JaredBalcomofPasco,Legislative Affairs. Wash., was elected to serve as NPCsEncouragingtheSenateto 2022 President and head the grow-Bob Mattive, Monte Vista, Colo. -improve upon the Farm Workforce er-ledorganizationsExecutiveVicePresident,EnvironmentalModernization Act. Committee.Affairs. Investing in the U.S. potato indus-As I take on the position of NPC Ted Tschirky, Pasco, Wash. - Vicetry via the appropriations process. President, Im hopeful we can con- President, Trade Affairs. tinue to use the momentum weveProtectingpotatoesinUSDA builttoleaveNPCinastrongerBenSklarczyk,Johannesburg,school meal programs. positionthanwhenanyofusMich. - Vice President, Finance. arrivedhere,saidBalcominhisFormoreinformationonNPCs address to the organizations BoardDeanGibson,Paul,Idaho-Vicepoliciyprioritiesvisit:national ofDirectors.WhetheritsinthePresident,GrowerOutreachandpotatocouncil.org/advocacy. areasoftrade,nutritionalregula- Industry Research. tions,environmentalpolicies,or USDA appoints New Board laborrules,weveseenfirsthandThe 2021 President, Dominic LaJoieMembers For Potatoes, USA whatwecandoasanindustryof Van Buren, Maine, will continue whenwestandtogether.AsthetoserveontheExecutiveOn February 17, the United States countryand the worldreopens,CommitteeastheImmediatePastDepartment of Agriculture appoint-wearehopingtogetbacktothePresident.ed 33 new or returning members to newnormalbyadvocatingfora servethree-yeartermsonthe proactivepolicyagendathatisThe2022ExecutiveCommitteeNationalPotatoPromotionBoard, fighting for a brighter tomorrow.hosts the NPC Washington Summit,Dba Potatoes USA. The new mem- Feb. 28-March 3, which brings thebers will be sworn in at the organi-Balcomistheownerofafourth- industry together to Stand Up forzations Annual Meeting in March. generationpotatogrowingandPotatoesonCapitolHill.This fresh packing company Balcom andincludes leading growers and indus- Each year, growers from every pro-Moe based in Pasco, Wash. He pre- try partners as they visit with theirducing state select other growers to viouslyservedasNPCsFirstVicerepresentatives in Congress to com- represent them on the board. These President and Vice President of themunicate the industrys policy pri- selectionsthenneedtobecon-TradeAffairsCommittee.Aspresi- orities.firmedbytheSecretaryof dent,Balcomwillhostthe2022 Agriculture. Potatoes USA has a 102-NPC Summer Meeting, June 16-17,Theindustryspolicyprioritiesatmemberboardconsistingof96 inNashville,Tenn.TheExecutivethis years Summit include:growers,fiveimportersandone 26 POTATO GROWER APRIL 2022'