CONNELL, Wash.-The U.S. Potato Board's new leader says his top priorities are finding a new CEO for the organization and spreading the word about the nutritional value of potatoes.
Rob Davis, president of RHD Inc., in Connell, Wash., was elected as the Potato Board's chairman earlier this month. He will serve for a year.
The board is the nation's potato marketing and research organization. Based in Denver, it represents more than 2,500 potato growers and handlers.
Davis said first priority is finding a replacement for the organization's CEO, Tim O'Connor, who departs April 1. The board has hired a company to help search for a replacement. Davis said he hopes to have a replacement hired by July 1.
He also sees a need to educate consumers about the healthful attributes of potatoes in a bid to increase domestic demand.
"We need to get over the hurdle that people don't believe potatoes are healthy for you," Davis said.
SOURCE: Matthew Weaver, Capital Press
http://www.capitalpress.com/newsletter/mw-Rob-Davis-032113-art