In the February 2014 Badger Common’Tater

Positive Messages at 2014 Potato Expo

Over 1,700 Potato growers and industry leaders attend the premier event in the North American potato industry
January 8-10, 2014
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas

For full coverage, check out the February 2014 edition of The Badger Common’Tater

Speaking at the 2014 Potato Expo in San Antonio, Texas is Dr. Paul Bethke, researcher with the USDA ARS and Research Plant Physiologist at UW-Madison.  He is a leader of the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) project on acrylamide reduction in processed potato products.  Bethke said several promising potato clones have been identified with low levels of acrylamide, but that the challenge is to find those that also have excellent fry quality, which includes a fluffy interior and a crispy shell.  He said this project, which involves 23 researchers and has a budget of $7.5 million over five years, has been integrated with the national chip and fry processing trials to identify promising varieties with low acrylamide levels and outstanding quality. “Flavor and texture will be the keys to new variety adoption,” Bethke said, “along with late storage ability.  The processors need to have an acceptable potato product that stores through June.”  Bethke said there also is a need to capture and utilize research data more effectively. “We need to be able to evaluate fry quality sooner and better.”

WPVGA Executive Director Duane Maatz is pictured on the tradeshow floor with UW Postdoc Fellow Yi Wang (left) and Lynn Dickman of Heartland Farms, Hancock.

Visiting on the tradeshow floor are (L-R) UW Plant Pathologist Dr. Amy Charkowski, Charlie Husnick and Mike Baginski of Baginski Farms, Antigo.

Jeremie Pavelski Wins Emerging Leader Award

The 2013 Spudman Emerging Leader Award was presented to Jeremie Pavelski of Heartland Farms, Hancock.  The award was presented at the National Potato Council Awards banquet held January 10, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas.  Pavelski has demonstrated great leadership and involvement in the potato industry at a young age.  He currently serves as the President of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), while also serving as a Wisconsin board member on the National Potato Council (NPC).  Jeremie is a recent graduate of the Potato Industry Leadership Institute sponsored by the NPC .  He also currently chairs the WPVGA’s Water Task Force as well as the Chip Committee.  He serves on the NPC’s Environmental Committee and co-chairs the NPC Water And Endangered Species Sub-Committee.  He also serves on the US Potato Board’s Chip Committee.  For more details, read the February 2014 edition of The Badger Common’Tater.

Jeremie Pavelski receives the Spudman Emerging Leader Award.  He is pictured with his wife Alicia at the NPC Awards Banquet held Jan. 10 in San Antonio.  Photo by Bill Schaefer.

Wisconsin Chip and Seed Industries Host Reception at Potato Expo

The Wisconsin Chip and Seed potato industries sponsored a reception at the 2014 Potato Expo on January 9 in San Antonio, TX.  Dr. Walt Stevenson (left), Professor Emeritus of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin, serves as a spokesman for the Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association, and provides information about Wisconsin’s seed and chip potato industries during the reception. Several drawings were held and multiple prizes were given away to lucky attendees.  Stevenson is shown here presenting a $100 bill to Ron Neumiller of Neumiller Farms, Savanna, IL.

A $100 door prize went to John T. Schroeder of Schroeder Bros. Farms, Antigo.  The cash quickly went to John T.’s wife, Judy.  For more reception photos, see the February issue of The Badger Common’Tater.