United Potato Growers of America History
To say that the potato production industry has been struggling is not an overstatement. Technological advances and other factors have spurred an increase in the potato grower’s ability to produce more potatoes at a time when consumer demand and industry infrastructure have changed. In addition, the modern grower grapples with increasing production costs and an over-supplied marketplace. Product over-supply makes it impossible for growers to receive a reasonable price.
In 2004, after evaluating the economic realities of the current business climate, a group of potato growers decided that long-term production and supply management are critically needed to provide sustainability and a reasonable return for growers.
November 2004: Under the provisions of the Capper-Volstead Act of 1922, Idaho potato growers form a cooperative, the United Fresh Potato Growers of Idaho. Their mission is to manage their potato supply, matching it to demand to help their growers receive a reasonable price for their product.
Idaho leaders reach out to growers in other regions and invite them to form their own supply management cooperatives as part of the united effort. Soon, regional co-ops are formed in Colorado, Klamath Basin (on the border of California and Oregon), Washington-Oregon and Wisconsin. (Later, growers in central California, the Southwest, Midwest and West form co-ops.)
March 2005: Realizing the need for national coordination, communication, data gathering and analysis, professional leadership and staff to handle the many facets and programs of the organization, United Potato Growers of America is formed. A national office is established in Salt Lake City, Utah, in December of 2005.
February 2006: Leaders of United Potato Growers of America assist Canadian growers who form United Potato Growers of Canada. United has a data sharing agreement with United Potato Growers of Canada and an alliance with a sister organization, Potato Marketing Association of North America, a bargaining association that represents process growers. Due to United's leadership, potato growers have formed similar supply management chapters in Europe.
Currently, United Potato Growers of America, a federated farmer co-op, has 10 member co-ops:
- United Potato Growers At Large, Inc.
- United Fresh Potato Growers of Colorado
- United Potato Growers of Idaho, Inc.
- Kern Produce Shippers Association
- United Potato Growers of the Klamath Basin, Inc.
- United Potato Growers of Montana, Inc.
- Red River Valley Fresh Potato Growers Cooperative
- United Southwest Potato Growers of America, Inc.
- United Fresh Potato Growers of Washington and Oregon, Inc.
- United Potato Growers Cooperative of Wisconsin, Inc.
United focuses on managing United's national potato supply so as to positively affect grower profitability. Through United membership, growers are empowered to better understand and act upon demand for their product.
The organization represents members in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
United’s vision is to provide a consistent supply of high quality potatoes at a reasonable price.
