The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association (NPPGA) serves more than 200 grower members and 250 potato associate members throughout northwest Minnesota and all of North Dakota, providing legislative, operational and marketing support. Keith Loria reports for The Produce News.
“We work in legislative issues, we provide dollars for research and we do marketing for the fresh market,” said Ted Kreis, marketing director for the East Grand Forks, MN-based association. “There’s a lot of communication that goes into what we do to keep growers informed. We work closely with the National Potato Council on many issues and Potatoes USA on keeping up to date with marketing and sales trends.”
With the uncertainty arising from COVID-19, that meant strategizing day by day and offering advice to its members on the best ways to succeed.
“Retail was probably the best it’s ever been during COVID-19 because everyone was eating at home,” Kreis said. “Growers needed to adjust to what was happening in the industry.”
The NPPGA has been in existence for 75 years, advocating for the growers and helping them accomplish more by working together.
