01/20/06 Spud groups working together

01/20/06 Spud groups working together

Farm and Ranch January 20, 2006 For about 30 years the Potato Marketing Association of North America has worked to improve contract prices for growers of processing potatoes. In the last year the United Growers of America was formed to work and improve prices for fresh spud growers. Now, Dale Lathim, president of the Potato Marketing Association of America, says the two groups, which represent over 80 percent of the potatoes grown in North America, have reached an agreement to work together. Lathim: "To try and control the supply of potatoes as well as raising the price as high as we can to restore some profitability to growers, and at the same time we recognize we need to keep our customers in business as well so we are trying to be very responsible about where we take the price, but we can see that there is definitely a need and a way we can raise prices to where most growers will be very comfortable." Lathim, who is also the executive director of the Potato Growers of Washington, says contract bargaining continues to be conducted by the various associations in the Potato Marketing Association of America. United will facilitate the coordination through its national office in Salt Lake City. He says the second round of contract talks with the three major processors, ConAgra, Simplot and McCain were being held this week. Lathim: "And then once we get those in place then the smaller processors that are regional, they normally come in right behind that." With the hope that between now and early March all the contracts will be wrapped up. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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