NPC News
NPC President Jared Balcom Co-hosts Summer Meeting
Washington grower shared hosting duties in Nashville with past presidents June 16-17, National Potato Council (NPC) President Jared Balcom welcomed the industry to NPC’s Summer Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Traditionally held in the NPC president’s home state, the Washington grower co-hosted the event in a neutral city along with 2021 President Dominic LaJoie from Maine and 2020 President Britt Raybould from Idaho after the pandemic caused the Council to hold meetings virtually during their presidencies. In addition to being sponsored by all three states, attendees enjoyed a tristate dinner featuring food and drinks flown in for the event, including New York strip steaks from Washington,
wine from grapes grown on Balcom’s farm, fresh lobster from Maine, and Idaho-grown huckleberries used in dessert. The event included committee and board meetings, a discussion about how global and national challenges are impacting November’s general election, an overview of the industry’s trade agenda, and John Toaspern’s final market report before he retired from his duties as Potatoes USA chief marketing officer at the end of the month. Additionally, attendees got a taste of Music City, with performances held at Blake Shelton’s rooftop bar, Ole Red. Performing were singer Amber Leigh; Nashville-based songwriters
Amber Leigh entertained the NPC Summer Meeting crowd with fiddle music at an evening event sponsored by the Washington State Potato Commission.
National Potato Council President Jared Balcom welcomed the industry to the Summer Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.
Lee Thomas Miller and Wendell Mobley, who have a combined 17 #1 hits penned between them; and Rich Redmond, who drums for Jason Aldean when he’s not speaking to groups about his energetic and positive philosophy for success. Thanks to all those who joined the NPC, and we’re looking forward to hosting the industry again, in January, at Potato Expo 2023 in Colorado! For more information, visit https://www. nationalpotatocouncil.org/potatoexpo/.
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Nashville songwriters Wendell Mobley (left) and Lee Thomas Miller shared their stories with America’s potato growers and brought the house down at the NPC Summer Meeting. BC�T August 59
