b"Potatoes USA And Hoverson Farms BringCuban Seed Delegation To The ValleyPotatoesUSAandHoversonFarms The delegation of Carlos de Jesus Martell SchragealsojoinedthegroupatextendedaninvitationtotheCuban Hernandez,Specialist,Agriculture Larimore where topics of seed exportingMinistry of Agriculture in order to pro- Directorate and Ariel Castillo Rodriguez, were discussed in depth.mote United States seed sourcing, learn InterimDirector,PlantHealthabout the seed certification process, gain Directorate,from Cuba were joined by Wewanttolearneverythingwecaninsight into potato research and variety PeterJoyce,InternationalSeed aboutplantingpractices,storage,anddevelopment, and see commercial pota- Representative, Potatoes USA and con- harvest of seed potatoes in the Valley,to production. This visit by the Cuban sultantsPaulJohnsonandPhilPeters saidCarlosHernandez,Oneofourdelegation was important for several rea- who helped facilatate the meetings. goalsistoincreasepotatoproductionsons.Agriculturaltradehasnotbeen from 7,500 acres to around 14,000 acrespossible since before 1958. Recently, a Upon arrival in North Dakota the group in three to five years. To do that, we willrevivalofagriculturaltradehasbeen spentSundayasguestsatCarl need to import more seed potatoes.made possible by the last United States Hoverson's lake home on Union Lake inCongressional session.Minnesota where theyenjoyed a beau- Carl gave a tour of his storage facilitiestiful summer day. Carl took everyone for and talked quite extensively on the stor-Their first stop was in Denver, Colorado pontoon andboat rides before serving a age of potatoes at his farm. They also gottoattendtheInternationalSeed wonderful dinner.to go out and tour some of his potatoSymposium.There they also met with fields.Potatoes USA officers.They traveled to ThenextdayCarlgaveatourofhisColorado to meet with the Potatoes USA farmnearLarimore,NorthDakota. LaterthatdaytheyvisitedtheInternational Seed Consultant as well as NDSU Potato Breeder Susie Thompson MinnesotaSeedInspectionOfficeintheSanLuisValleyseedgrowers, andretiredNorthDakotaand EastGrandForks,Minnesota.Potatoresearchcenter,andseedcertification. MinnesotaSeedDirectorWillem InspectionSupervisorEricByre hosted(Left to right) Dr. Susie Thompson, Carlos de Jesus Martell Hernandez, Carl Hoverson, and Ariel Castillo Rodriguez posefor a picture to commemorate the historic meeting.10 POTATO GROWER SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019"