Spudman February 2023 - 41

Potato Expo returns to pre-pandemic
levels with Colorado event
On Jan. 4-5, more
NATIONAL
POTATO
COUNCIL
Kam Quarles
Chief Executive
Officer
than 1,800 U.S.
potato growers and
industry members
from a dozen
countries turned
out for Potato
Expo 2023, hosted
by the National
Potato Council,
at the Gaylord
Rockies Resort and
Convention Center in
Aurora, Colorado, to
do business and prepare their operations
for the future.
Celebrating its 15th year, Potato Expo
2023 broke previous attendance records
for an event hosted outside of Las Vegas,
with 1,816 registered attendees and 175
exhibitors covering more than 90,000
square feet in the Aurora Exhibit Hall.
While the record-breaking attendance
was due in part to attendees' desire to
meet in person post-COVID, I applaud
our NPC team for their outstanding
efforts in creating a compelling and
creative program for our exhibitors and
growers who look forward to attending
the Expo every year.
For the first time on the Expo stage,
attendees were treated to a special potatothemed
cook-off, " This Spud's for You -
Celebrity Chef Edition, " hosted by Ted Allen,
the Emmy Award-winning host of " Chopped "
and " Chopped Junior. " Two Colorado potato
industry chefs (Jason Morse, CEC, owner
and executive chef of 5280 Culinary in
Littleton, Colorado, and RJ Harvey, RDN,
CEC, the culinary director of Potatoes USA)
paired up with Food Network personalities
Duff Goldman and Simon Majumdar for a
competition around creating dishes that
put potatoes at the center of the plate.
Working with yellow potatoes donated by
Bob Mattive from Hi-Land Potatoes in San
Luis Valley, Colorado, and Caribou Russet
potatoes donated by Dominic LaJoie
from LaJoie Farms in Van Buren, Maine,
the teams were tasked with preparing a
main dish as well as their " best version of
mashed potatoes. "
" This Spud's for You - Celebrity Chef
Edition " contestants pose with
commemorative Potato Expo skillets after
the event. Pictured left to right: Chef RJ
Harvey, Chef Simon Majumdar, Chef Duff
Goldman and Chef Jason Morse.
Potato Expo serves as a forum to foster
collaboration between national and state
potato associations, as well as the rest of
the industry. Maintaining its reputation as a
place to help better position the industry for
the future, the Potato Expo 2023 addressed
many current topics from weather trends to
sustainability to new export opportunities.
The National Potato Council, the Potato
Expo's organizer, also produces the
" Eye on Potatoes Podcast. " Sponsored
by Syngenta, the podcast is available
on a number of different platforms
including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and
Google Podcasts. It provides a platform
for growers throughout the country and
policymakers in Washington to learn about
the industry policy priorities and hear from
growers and experts on the latest issues
affecting the industry.
Two live podcasts were recorded on
Expo Stage: " CEO Roundtable, Teamwork
Across the Potato Industry, " featuring
the CEOs of the American Frozen Food
Institute, Potatoes USA and National
Potato Council; and " View From the Top, "
featuring past, current and incoming
National Potato Council presidents. During
the sessions, Syngenta announced it has
renewed its sponsorship for the podcast
through 2023.
The event also highlighted the
importance of the Potato Leadership,
Education, and Advancement Foundation
(Potato LEAF), a 501(c)3 organization
that provides tools, training and support
necessary to help growers and industry
members develop as leaders. During the
kick-off reception, live and silent auctions
were held which raised nearly $60,000 for
the foundation. More information about
Potato LEAF can be found at pleaf.org.
Potato Expo 2024 will be held Jan. 10-11
in Austin, Texas. More information is
available at potato-expo.com.
Spudman.com 41
Potato Expo Steering Committee members cut the ribbon to open Potato Expo 2023
at the entrance of the Expo Hall. Photos: Potato Expo, Bill Schaefer Photography
http://www.pleaf.org http://www.potato-expo.com http://www.Spudman.com
Spudman February 2023

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