b'News from the Potato USA Annual Meetingby Ted Kreis, NPPGA Marketing and Communications DirectorNPPGAofficeattendedalongwith studies are flawed and potatoes willPotatoes USA Board members Casey be determined to be a "good carb",Hoverson,DavidFedjeandTom not a "bad carb." EnanderfromNorthDakotaandJennifer Borowicz, Casey Folson, Jeff PotatoesUSAChiefMarketingEdlingandGaryGrayfrom Officer John Toaspern reported con-Minnesota.Unabletoattendwere tinuedincreasingdemandforUSNorth Dakota board members Brad friedpotatoproductsbutwarnedNilson,LeahHalversonandJeff the Coronavirus pandemic is start-VanRay. ingtohaveanegativeeffectonexports. Toaspern also reported thatPotatoes USA CEO & President Blair more people are preparing meals atRichardsonannouncedanewpro- homeduringthepandemicwhichgram that will challenge some pub- will shift some sales from the food-lished medical studies that have cre- servicesectortotheretailsector.Potatoes USA held its annual meet- ated negative health perceptions of This has no doubt been happeninging in Denver in March and it was potatoes,includingthemisunder- in a big way because by mid-March,likely one of the last gatherings of stood use of the glycemic index and freshshippersintheRedRiverits kind before the COVID-19 pan- the glycemic load value for carbohy- Valley and all over the country weredemicput to an end to nearly all drates.Richardsonisconfident reportingtremendousdemandforgatheringsofthistype.Donavon Potatoes USA will be able to provide consumer packs.JohnsonandTedKreisfromthe sound,scientificproofthattheseA swearing-in ceremony for new board members is conducted by the USDA which has oversight over all ag promotionboards.Casey Folson, Tom Enander, Jennifer Borwicz and David Fedje are in the photo.4 POTATO GROWER APRIL 2020'