UPGA announces 2008 Potato Partners
February 26, 2008
United Potato Growers of America announced the expansion of its Potato Partners program at the second annual North American Potato Grower Summit held Feb. 11 in Las Vegas, NV.
President and Chief Executive Officer Lee Frankel told The Produce News that the 2008 program is comprised of three partners. This is the second year of participation for WinField Solutions. New to the program this year are Bayer CropScience and AMVAC Chemical Corp.
"The thought was to look for a new way to work with corporate partners," Mr. Frankel said. "This helps growers understand what's happening in the market."
He added that these partnerships are a departure from traditional programs and will give more weight to market research and supply programs for United members. "It increases grower information and understanding of market dynamics," Mr. Frankel said.
This is the second year of the program. "A year ago, the [UPGA] board decided on partnerships for corporations and growers," he said. The program fits in well with UPGA's overall mission to help growers obtain more economic flexibility and achieve a healthier return on investment, Mr. Frankel continued.
Bayer CropScience, an international crop science company, will offer a series of educational seminars in the major potato-growing regions in the United States. According to Mr. Frankel, the seminars will help growers learn how they can sustain and stabilize their operations as part of a sustainable agriculture and world food supply effort.
AMVAC Chemical Corp., a specialty and agriculture products company, will offer seminars to help train potato growers in U.S. growing regions about safe and proper product handling.
WinField Solutions, an agricultural product distributor owned by Land O'Lakes Inc., has negotiated a value-added, corporate program that will enable UPGA members to earn rebates on crop protection products purchased through WinField Solutions' proprietary line of AgriSolutions products.
"These new partners realize the strategic benefits of teaming up with United as a means of reaching the potato grower directly," said Mr. Frankel. "We value these agricultural corporations as new United Potato Partners members and look forward to a successful year for the potato industry overall."
United members wishing to obtain more information about upcoming seminars are encouraged to contact their local chapter.
UPGA was formed in 2005. Member cooperatives are located in California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
President and Chief Executive Officer Lee Frankel told The Produce News that the 2008 program is comprised of three partners. This is the second year of participation for WinField Solutions. New to the program this year are Bayer CropScience and AMVAC Chemical Corp.
"The thought was to look for a new way to work with corporate partners," Mr. Frankel said. "This helps growers understand what's happening in the market."
He added that these partnerships are a departure from traditional programs and will give more weight to market research and supply programs for United members. "It increases grower information and understanding of market dynamics," Mr. Frankel said.
This is the second year of the program. "A year ago, the [UPGA] board decided on partnerships for corporations and growers," he said. The program fits in well with UPGA's overall mission to help growers obtain more economic flexibility and achieve a healthier return on investment, Mr. Frankel continued.
Bayer CropScience, an international crop science company, will offer a series of educational seminars in the major potato-growing regions in the United States. According to Mr. Frankel, the seminars will help growers learn how they can sustain and stabilize their operations as part of a sustainable agriculture and world food supply effort.
AMVAC Chemical Corp., a specialty and agriculture products company, will offer seminars to help train potato growers in U.S. growing regions about safe and proper product handling.
WinField Solutions, an agricultural product distributor owned by Land O'Lakes Inc., has negotiated a value-added, corporate program that will enable UPGA members to earn rebates on crop protection products purchased through WinField Solutions' proprietary line of AgriSolutions products.
"These new partners realize the strategic benefits of teaming up with United as a means of reaching the potato grower directly," said Mr. Frankel. "We value these agricultural corporations as new United Potato Partners members and look forward to a successful year for the potato industry overall."
United members wishing to obtain more information about upcoming seminars are encouraged to contact their local chapter.
UPGA was formed in 2005. Member cooperatives are located in California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
