b'in the level of industry engagement andsupportofpotatoresearchprojects.Since 2016, it has nearly doubled andled directly to more than $10 million inadditionalpotatoresearchfundinginthe same amount of time. In 2018, certi-fiedseedacreageforPotatoesUSANationalChipProgramgraduateLamokagrewby28percent,or755acres, over the prior year. It now is moreprevalentthanindustrystandardsSnowden and Atlantic. Varieties devel-oped in the National Chip Program nowaccount for 23 percent of all chippingvariety certified seed acres in the U.S. Onthepotatonutritionresearchfront, Michelle Kijek from FoodMinds discussing APRE.MichelleKijekofFoodMindsgavea while Heidi Alsum-Randall of Cambria, Davenport of Arvin, California will con-summaryofthe23studiescurrently Wisconsin and Sheldon Rocky of Center, tinuetoleadtheFinanceandPolicyunderwayandthepublishedresearch ColoradowillagainbeCo-Chairsof Committee.associated with them.IndustryOutreach.ChrisHansenofBliss,NewYorkandEricSchroederof PotatoesUSAwillholditsSummerThe Board meeting focused on the busi- Antigo, Wisconsin continue as Co-chairs Meeting for 2020 August 13th and 14thnessofboardmembershipandgover- oftheResearchcommitteeandJason in Nashville, Tennessee.nance.The modified strategic plan andbudget for the coming fiscal year, July2019 thru June 2020, were approved aswere some modifications to the Boardspolicies.Thirty-onenewPotatoesUSAboardmembers,recentlyappointedbytheSecretary of Agriculture, were sworn in.Phil Hickman from Horntown, VirginiawaselectedasthenewChairman,replacingDanMossofDeclo,Idaho.There was only one new member electedtotheExecutivecommittee,SteveElfering of Idaho Falls, Idaho is the newCo-ChairoftheDomesticcommitteejoiningJarenRaybouldfromSaintAnthony,Idaho.MartyMeyersofBoardman,OregonandSteveStreichfromKalispell,MontanarepeatasCo-chairsoftheInternationalcommittee26 POTATO GROWER MAY/JUNE 2019'