Growing Together: Dave Masser

Dave Masser’s family has been growing potatoes in Pennsylvania for eight generations, beginning in 1754. Today, Dave and his sister Julie Masser-Ballay continue this legacy by leading the Masser Family of Companies. Dave serves as the CEO, while Julie is vice president and chief financial officer. Their companies include the family’s farm, Sterman Masser Potato Farms; a trucking company, Masser Logistics Services & Brokerage; a potato processor, Keystone Potato Products; and a storage and crop rotation company, Lykens Valley Grain. Together, the companies currently employ approximately 450 people.

Sterman Masser Potato Farms specializes in growing table-stock potatoes—yellows, whites, russets, and creamers. Dave particularly enjoys mashed potatoes because Pennsylvania’s mineral soil gives their yellow-fleshed potatoes a distinctive flavor. Another favorite way to prepare potatoes is by air frying, which Dave’s family has recently gotten into.

“We enjoy making steak fries quite a bit,” says Dave. “We use russets, but we also use yellows. Some varieties grow a little drier, and they’re great prepared this way.”

Before joining his family’s company, Dave followed his family’s rule: work outside the business for at least five years and earn a promotion before returning. He worked as a product test engineer for New Holland North America, doing research and development for industrial equipment. Since he returned to the family business, Dave has seen the companies change significantly. He’s focused on continuous learning and improvement to lead the business into the future.

Both Dave and Julie have two children. He sees a lot of opportunity for them in the potato industry, if they choose it. Dave believes potatoes are fairly recession-proof, so you can capture opportunity in the good times and in the challenging times, too.

“There’s always a place for potatoes, and the nutritional messaging that Potatoes USA continues to promote is a tremendous opportunity for the next generation,” says Dave.

Dave currently serves as chair of Potatoes USA’s Retail Marketing Committee, continuing a family tradition of leadership in the organization. Dave’s father, Keith Masser, served as chair of Potatoes USA in 1985, and his mother, Helen Masser, took on that role in 1999.

“Potatoes USA is critical in helping growers align to push potatoes being eaten by more people in more ways,” Dave shared. “Without it, there wouldn’t be a great way to collectively educate consumers. This organization is really important to our industry, and my hope is that after I’m finished serving, it continues to grow and draw interest from growers to serve and give back and understand that there’s a much bigger picture than just ourselves.”

Beyond his work, Dave and his family are active in their Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, community, where they support funding for extracurricular activities for schools and are leaders in their church. Dave also enjoys flying as a pilot, and the family loves to ski, especially on their trips to Denver for potato industry business.