Conan Feld, Aberdeen, ID, grower will appear on the NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw Wednesday night, September 17.
Feld, not anxious for the publicity but willing to go under the lights and camera, was interviewed for how the 10 percent drop in french fry sales in the United States, as reported by the U.S. Potato Board, will affect him and other process growers.
Feld, described as a bright, articulate grower in his late 20s, spent most of last Friday doing the interview.
Potato Growers of Idaho Executive Director Keith Esplin said Feld has done remarkable things in his short career. "He is nervous about the results, but I have full confidence that he did as good a job as anyone could have done."
Esplin said PGI believed it better that the interview be done by someone that "we can trust," rather than risk them interviewing someone [at random] that we have no idea what they would say."
Feld got some tips before going on camera from Keith Frank, PGI communications director. Frank is a former television reporter. He also received advice from others, including new Idaho Potato Commission President Frank Muir.
The only worry PGI has with the segment is that they repeatedly tried to get him to answer questions as they wanted them answered, Esplin said.