Reflections, Thanks, and Looking Forward

From the Desk of Chairman Steve Elfering

With the approaching Potatoes USA annual meeting (March 9-11 in Denver), my term as Chairman of the Board will come to a close. In my last address, I wanted to take the time to reflect, say thank you, and share a few of my key takeaways.

I’ve said this before, but it’s worth reiterating: it’s a privilege to serve as chairman of this board. And, in my opinion, the benefits far outweigh the responsibilities that come with the role. I’ve been a proud member of the potato industry for 34 years, and a board member for 13. Serving as chairman gave me an even deeper understanding of all the moving parts that support the industry, and I got to be involved in a way I haven’t before. I’d like to think that I contributed valuable insight and direction over the last year. But I know without a doubt I’ve gained new learnings and perspectives that I can apply in my region and business.

For those of you already on the board, I urge you to be active and make your voices heard. Being involved and engaged means you make a greater impact, but also that you get even more out of it. For industry members who haven’t served on the board, I highly recommend you consider it; look out for nominations when they open this summer.

By many measures, this has been a challenging year for our industry. Blair and the team, alongside other industry partners, are doing everything they can on our behalf to identify and further strengthen the demand for potatoes, while also supporting expanded marketing opportunities around the globe. They get into the right rooms and pursue opportunities from every angle to give us the best possible chance at industry growth. Stateside, the team is coming up with creative ways to inspire new use cases for potatoes, like making them a staple for Halloween and, this past month, promoting global-inspired dishes to enjoy as the world’s athletes competed in Milan. While Potatoes USA is designed to strengthen long-term demand, they constantly use the information gathered in real time to inspire the activities that will continue to drive that demand.

Speaking of looking toward the future, that’s probably the biggest takeaway from my experience as chairman: Potatoes USA’s relentless focus on how they can help ensure and support a thriving industry for generations to come. Just as the record numbers of consumers understand the health benefits of potatoes due to decades of work, the work being done this year is building even more momentum that will continue to reap benefits in years to come.

With our future in mind, I encourage you all to become familiar with the Seed to Table initiative that the board is beginning to explore. In January, we approved a feasibility study to look at the potential for Potatoes USA to help the industry accelerate the great work being done in early-stage variety research, and expand the educational opportunities across the industry to ensure the products we develop, grow, and distribute meet evolving consumer preferences and appear on more plates in the years to come. I’m proud to have been on the leadership team that initiated this foundational thinking that is designed to ensure the U.S. potato industry is well-positioned for the future.

Fortunately, after a year as chairman, I get to serve for a year as Chair Emeritus, so this isn’t goodbye by any stretch. I look forward to working with the new board members who will be joining soon. To you, my advice is: show up to meetings; engage with your fellow board members; share your valuable perspective and experience; and bring learnings back to your region. Being on the board is a two-way street, and contributing in both directions strengthens the entire industry.

I’m proud of the work I’ve gotten to be part of over the last year and the position the board is in now. I’m excited to pass the torch while staying involved to support our new chair and the unending work of the board. I look forward to seeing many of you next week!