b'NPC Report Proves That America Is A Spud Nationby RJ Andrus, President,National Potato CouncilAs growers flew into D.C. to stand upofAmerica\'seconomicprosperityand for potatoes on Capitol Hill during thishere\'s why: Potatoes made an estimated yearsNPCWashingtonSummit,Feb.contribution of $100.9 billion in 2021. 27-March 3, they were armed with newThis contribution stems from direct and data that clearly demonstrated the vitalindirect economic activity including: role potatoes play in our nation\'s econ-omy. $10.8 billion in agriculture production and agribusiness services;Overtheyears,statepotatoorganiza-$49.1 billion in processing, wholesal-tionshavegatheredcompellinginfor- ing, and retail;mationontheimpactofthepotato industryonthestatelevel.However, $41 billion in food service industries latelastyear,NPCcommissionedtheand household consumption.creationofacomprehensivestudyonNotably,farmproductionmakesup NPCthe national economic contribution ofapproximately10percentofthetotal AmericangrowersandtheentireU.S.economiccontributionofthepotato potato industry.supply chainunderscoring the signifi-canceoflargelyfamily-ownedpotato MessageTo kick off the Washington Summit, thefarmsasthefoundationforjobsand National Potato Council issued its newwealth throughout the entire U.S. econ-report,"MeasuringtheEconomicomy. Significance of the U.S. Potato Industry," authored by Michigan State UniversityNow, lets talk job creation. Obviously, economists.Wevealwaysknownthatfarmsemploypeopleinruralareas. as Americas most-consumed vegetable,However,nowweknowthattheU.S. potatoesareanimportantsourceofpotatosectorsupportsanestimated nutritionforconsumers.Now,forthe714,000 domestic jobsfrom the time a firsttime,thisreportallowedusto potatofieldispreparedthroughthe demonstrate to lawmakers that potatoestime a consumer purchases a potato or areanincrediblyimportantcropforpotato product at a store or restaurant.Americasruralcommunitiesandthe country, as a whole.Additionally,those714,000jobspro-vide wages of $34.1 billion annually to AccordingtoourSpudNationreport,those employed along the supply chain. the U.S. potato sector is a driving forceAlltold,animpressive0.4%ofthe 8 POTATO GROWER APRIL 2023'