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| HEADLINES (Click on headline for full story): | April 4 , 2008 |
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WOMAN'S WORLD CLAIMS POTATOES MAKE YOU SLIMMER In the world of public relations, patience is a virtue that can lead to results that change your expectations… Last June, United States Potato Board (USPB) Vice President of Public Relations, Linda McCashion, sat down with writers of consumer publications to brief them on research news that supported the potato, including studies on weight management and satiety. Fast forward nine months...we're excited to report that in the March 31st issue of Woman's World (circulation 1,542,395), writers included mashed potatoes in their cover story: 10 Surprising Delicious Foods that Melt Fat. “Mashed potatoes are ultra-filling. Don’t pass up this comfort food when trying to slim down--it's key for curbing hunger! When boiled, potatoes are the most filling food around--three times more filling than bread, according to an Australian study. Result: Potatoes make you feel satisfied faster and longer, so you consume fewer calories later.” For more information on satiety, or the “fullness factor” in laymen’s terms, see also http://www.nutritiondata.com/topics/fullness-factor. US SEED VARIETIES REGISTERED IN BRAZIL After two plus years of effort and numerous submissions of the applications, four US seed potato varieties were finally accepted into Brazil's National Registry of Cultivars. The four new registrations are for Cal White, Pike, Chipeta and Cherry Red. The extremely bureaucratic process was finally overcome through the efforts of the USPB “Team Seed”, the USPB representative in the market and pressure from USDA officials stationed in Brazil. This is excellent news as the USPB gained market access to Brazil for US seed potatoes over 2 years ago, but sales were limited by the lack of registration of varieties grown in the US, except Atlantics. The first sales of US chipping potatoes to Brazil occurred this year with 25 metric tons of Atlantics being exported from Maine. It is hoped that the combination of this successful sale, along with the registration of these new varieties, will allow for the US to finally take advantage of the good market in Brazil for seed potatoes. TOTAL MY08 US SEED POTATO EXPORTS REACH $1.7 MILLION BY THE 3RD QUARTER. Seed potato exports, as tracked by the USPB, were 2,525 metric tons or 56,100 hundredweight during the January – March 2008 period. These exports were made to Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Uruguay. The DR is the largest market with exports of Megachip, Cal White and Granola totaling 975 metric tons. Uruguay was second with 850 metric tons of Chieftain, Red LaSoda and Dark Red Norland going to this market. Sales were made by eight organizations from throughout the US representing over 15 different growers. NOMINATIONS FOR 2009 US POTATO BOARD MEMBERS NOW OPEN All state potato organizations have now received the information and materials to begin the process of seeking and nominating interested growers for positions on the USPB Board for 2009. All growers would be seated on the Board at the 2009 Annual Meeting in Denver, March 11-13, 2009. If you are interested in being considered by your state grower leadership to fill an open spot representing your state, please contact your State Manager, or for more information, contact Alexandra Grimm, USPB Industry Communications & Policy Assistant Manager, at alasonde@uspotatoes.com or 303-873-2311. |
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©2008 United States Potato Board |
