Idaho Potato Commission

Idaho potato growers are hopeful 2023 will be much improved over last year for a variety of reasons.  Jamey Higham, Executive Director of the Idaho Potato Commission said producers faced a number of difficult challenges last year.  One of the more interesting one occurred late in the year, when rumors started the Idaho potato growers ran out of spuds.  Higham said despi...

A new assistant professor at the University of Idaho is trying to tackle a big problem before the potato industry; reducing post-harvest losses.  Gustavo Teixeria said as the global population continues to increase, and resources become more limited, it’s vital that post-harvest losses are minimized or removed.   "The o...

University of Idaho researchers are introducing genes from a specific plant into potatoes, in an effort to develop spuds that are resistant to harmful nematodes.  The litchi tomato, has a natural resistance to several species of nematodes, which are also known as round worms.  Nematod...

Harvest is underway for the 2022 Idaho potato crop, and while official numbers won’t be known for a while, the crop is looking very good, that according to Idaho Potato Commission President & CEO Jamey Higham.  He noted while the weather may have been all over the map, even delaying some plantings, 2022 was a good growing year.   “The one m...

The Idaho potato crop is expected to be a bit smaller this year, with acres down roughly 8% year-over-year.  Jamey Higham, CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission said one of the chief reasons for the drop is a dramatic increase in input costs. “...

When the Idaho Potato Commission found out they would need a new leader, they turned to one of their own. Jamey Higham, a 5th generation grower from the Shelly area became the new President and CEO of the commission on January 1st. He noted he has been an admirer of the commission for a long time ...

After 18 years as the Executive Director of the Idaho Potato Commission, Frank Muir decided this fall to retire from the organization. Muir said taking over the Commission in 2003 was challenging in a variety of ways. He noted one of the biggest challenges was not trade, or government regulations, but the diets of millions of Americans ...

While much of the attention of the 2021 growing season has been on the drought and record heat of this summer, the Idaho Potato Commission is still trying to adjust to the problems left behind by 2020. Frank Muir, Executive Director of the Idaho Potato Commission said while some progress is being made to regain market share, a lot of work remains ...

The late April Supreme Court ruling in Mexico allowing for the import of U.S. potatoes is being celebrated by American growers. Frank Muir, President and CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission, said this has been a long battle for growers across the Gem State and across the nation ...

When the pandemic started to impact the U.S. and global economies, one of the commodities that felt the brunt of the economic impact first was the potato industry. With restaurants and schools closed across the globe, demand plummeted, meaning many contracts went up in smoke ...