Two reverse trade missions, sponsored by the United States Potato Board and the U.S. Potato Institute, will take place in the next few weeks in the Pacific Northwest and in June in Kansas.
Robin Vest, who will direct the tours, says the first will begin Saturday, May 18, at Portland, OR. The event will include a meeting with the U.S. Potato Board on Sunday and an orientation meeting.
Monday will include a bus ride to Hermiston, OR, and farm tours and a fresh packing plant tour. Tuesday will see the group visiting the Simplot, Lamb-Weston and Logan International processing plants. A dehy plant tour at Oregon Potato Company will end the day’s visits.
Wednesday will be a trip back to Portland and a dinner by Chef Leif Bensen. Thursday will see the group visit refrigerated Warehouse Consultants Inc. and Henningsen Cold storage. Friday agenda includes tours, including one at theHoffman Farms.
A dehy bakery tour will start June 8 in Kansas City, KS. The group will include a tour of a food processing facility and a presentation by LaRue Bunker of Miles Willard Technologies.
Functionality and use of dehy in baked foods will be explained. The group will visit the bake lab and conduct hands-on tests of selected bakery products containing dehy potato products. A reception with the dehy potato industry will conclude the tour.