July 2024
The Idaho Potato Commission met at Idaho Potato Commission in Eagle, ID on July 24, 2024. This meeting was also held by video conference.
Paul Saito, Chairman
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Eric Jemmett
Brian Jones
Brett Jensen
Daren Bitter
Mark Darrington
Bryan Wada
Jamey Higham, President/CEO
Sam Eaton, VP Legal/Government Affairs
Ross Johnson, VP Retail
Alan Kahn, VP Foodservice
Jeweldean Hull, Managing Director
Jamie Bowen, Marketing Director
Grayson Waldie, Accounting/Finance Manager
Dusti Zimmerman, Finance/Legal Assistant
EXCUSED MEMBERS: Mike Telford
VISITORS: Laura Martin, Ben Johnson, Brad Carlson
VIDEO CONFERENCE: Patxi Lorrocea Phillips, Justin Poe, Blair Richardson, Jessica Stampe, Dylan Cline, Camron Hammond, Emily Lauderdale, Sue Kennedy, Dennis Hardy, Travis Blacker, Shawn Boyle
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting convened at 8:31 a.m., with Chairman Saito presiding. He welcomed everyone and went over the anti-trust agreement.
MINUTES:
MOTION: Commissioner Bitter made a motion to approve June 14, 2024, minutes. Commissioner Jemmett seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
FINANCIAL REPORT: Mr. Waldie discussed receipts and expenditures for the June financials. For the month of June, Fresh revenue is at $310k, down $272k compared to last year. Processed is at 597k, down $168k. Total for the month of June is $907k, down $237k compared to last year. Year-to-date for Fresh is up $1.1 mil compared to last year and Processed is down $298k compared to the previous year. Total Year-to-date for Fresh and Processed is $849k. Expenditures for the month of June are $1.4mil vs.$1.7 mil budget. Currently the reserve is $2.7 mil. Chairman Saito asked for a motion to approve the June financials as presented if there were no further questions.
MOTION: Commissioner Jensen made a motion to approve the June financials. Commissioner Wada seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
CHAIRMANS COMMITTEE: Chairman Saito called upon Mr. Eaton, who presented the following: A) Legislative Update: state and federal B) Idaho Farm Bureau Meeting; C) Japanese Bilateral Meetings/visit to Idaho Falls in September.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT: Mr. Higham reported the following: A) FY2025 Budget and tax proposal; B) FY25 IPC Chairman & Vice Chairman nominations; C) Website Update, Jamie Bowen; D) Idaho Potato Drop Update, Dylan Cline; F) IGSA overview/registrations.
MOTION: Commissioner Jensen made a motion to approve the FY25 budget of $15,508,100 which includes $436k from the reserve for Advertising and Consumer programs. Commissioner Wada seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: Commissioner Jemmett made a motion to approve the tax rate at 12.5¢. Commissioner Darrington seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: Commissioner Jensen made a motion to nominate Vice Chairman Darrington as IPC Chairman for 2024-2025. Commissioner Jemmett seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: Commissioner Darrington made a motion to nominate Commissioner Jemmett as Vice Chairman of IPC for 2024-2025. Commissioner Bitter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
LIASON REPORTS:
USDA-NASS: Chairman Saito turned the time over to Ben Johnson who reported on: A) Personnel update; B) Data analysis report; C) Potato Growers magazine; D) USDA Acreage Count Potatoes USA: Commissioner Bitter turned the time over to Blair Richardson, who reported on: A) Retail update, increase 2.2% year over year; B) Russets an increase of 3.8%, Red and white potatoes are down, yellows increase 8%.
The meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
