Statistics were quoted by the IGSA showing the decline of 100 pound bags of fresh potatoes. The 1966 crop had 57 percent of all fresh potatoes shipped in 100-pound units, whereas the 1967 crop was 50 percent and, in1968, only 43 percent was shipped this way. Fifty-pound count cartons were much in demand and were rapidly replacing the 100-pound units.

Another issue that year was an effort to improve quality, to "produce the premium potatoes that we advertise and promote." The industry research and education committee was charged with the responsibility of upgrading the quality of the Idaho® potato.

Traffic at the Idaho® potato booth at the American Food Service Convention in 1970 was so heavy that it caused congestion problems on the convention floor.

The possibilities of a substantial export business attracted the attention of Commission members in 1970 when they received information from the Foreign Agricultural Service indicating that crops of potatoes were short in Sweden, Denmark, England, Poland, France, and presumably in most other European countries.

In April, the Union Pacific Railroad made several tests comparing the conditioned-air bulk cars with refrigerated service (ice bunker) cars. One demonstration involved a car loaded in Boise on April 3 and unloaded in Boston on April 20. A USDA agricultural inspector from Boise supervised the unloading in Boston and evaluated the quality as "okay" and approved the new shipping method.

The gray area in Malheur County, Oregon, was developing into a deep concern to Commission members in 1970, and they were anxious to clarify the questions of whether Oregon had the right to use "Idaho" in their promotional material.

Tensions among staff members surfaced during 1970 and efforts to resolve the problem failed, resulting in the Commission requesting resignations from executive secretary Jay Sherlock and field auditor Reed Huntsman. Sherlock refused the resignation offer and, when his employment was terminated, there was a flurry of media attention across the state. A special committee was named and began the search for a replacement.