Eye on Potatoes: A Podcast on All Things Potatoes

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-Pa.) has announced his intention to introduce the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act on June 30. The legislation directly addresses ongoing agricultural labor challenges through three main pillars: expanding access, controlling costs, and streamlining operations. In this episode, we explore how this legislation addresses...

The National Potato Council Summer Meeting heads to Detroit this July, and organizers have planned an incredible lineup of activities, sessions, and networking events to showcase the Motor City.  Host Lane Nordlund welcomes NPC's 2026 President Ben Sklarczyk, a seed potato grower from Johannesburg, Michigan, and Kelly Turner, Executive Director of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission, to p...

During Potato Expo 2026, we were joined by the dynamic duo leading that charge at Potatoes USA: Culinary Director Chef RJ Harvey and Executive Sous Chef Aurora Hollenbeck. These two experts are redefining the potato's role in the culinary world through their unique perspectives as registered dietitians and scientists. Join us as we look inside the day-to-day operations of Potato USA's Sp...

Recorded live at Potato Expo 2026 in Dallas, this special episode brings together the top leadership of the U.S. potato industry. National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles , Potatoes USA CEO Blair Richardson , and United Potato Growers of America President and CEO Mark Klompein join host Lane Nordlund to discuss the power of organizational alignment. The three leaders reflect on a volatile 2025 mark...

During Potato Expo 2026, we explored leadership through the lens of one of American history's most pivotal moments: the Battle of Gettysburg. National Potato Council COO Mike Wenkel and retired Marine Corps Colonel Rob Abbott, a licensed battlefield guide and leadership expert, joined the Eye on Potatoes podcast to discuss the Potato LEAF "Leadership in the Field" program. Colonel A...

Potatoes are highly sensitive to even moderate environmental changes. During Potato Expo 2026, we sat down with Andrew Pritchard, Senior Atmospheric Scientist at Nutrien , who identified the "best and worst" weather patterns for potato health. The conversation focuses on practical resilience strategies, including soil performance tracking and storage management, to help producers remain...

The 2025 Leadership Institute added a new layer of innovation with the introduction of capstone projects, requiring participants to identify and solve critical issues facing the U.S. potato industry.  On this episode of Eye on Potatoes, we sit down with Michael Rainis of Friehe Farms, Mike Murphy of Childstock Farms, and Matthew McKenna of County Farms—the trio behind "SPUD Team Six." Fr...

National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles and Spudman Managing Editor Melinda Waldrop join the Eye on Potatoes Podcast to break down the inaugural 2026 Spud Sector Survey. This first-of-its-kind report moves past headlines to reveal the economic heartbeat of America’s potato growers.  Discover how NPC uses this "hard data ammunition" to advocate for our family farms in Washington, D.C. The...

In this special live recording from the Expo Stage at Potato Expo 2026, host Lane Nordlund sits down with Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council (NPC) , and Randy Russell, President and CEO of The Russell Group. One year into the current administration, the discussion tackles the current policy landscape and its impact on NPC's mission of "Standing Up for Potatoes on Capitol Hil...

In this recording from Potato Expo 2026 in Dallas, National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles and Matt Lantz of Bryant Christie Inc. dive into the high-stakes world of international potato trade. The group discusses the industry’s formal request for a Section 332 fact-finding investigation to address concerns regarding British Columbia’s efforts over 40 years to limit exports of potatoes to that prov...

Recorded live at Potato Expo 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Host Lane Nordlund sits down with some of the nation's leading agriculture advocates to examine the state of agricultural labor in the U.S. and discuss the pressing need for a stable and secure workforce. The panel explores efforts by the Agriculture Workforce Coalition to drive legislative and regulatory reforms. They address the complex in...

This morning, the Trump Administration released the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, marking a significant development for U.S. potato growers. In this episode of the Eye on Potatoes podcast, National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles and Beth Johnson of Food Directions break down the release and what it means for the industry. They discuss the encouraging new consumer graphic that features a wh...

Get ready to head to the heart of Texas for the potato industry’s premier event! In this episode, NPC CEO Kam Quarles and Vice President of Industry Relations & Events Hollee Alexander sit down to preview Potato Expo 2026 , taking place Jan. 6-8, 2026, at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas. As the largest conference and trade show for the potato industry, Potato Expo 2026 offers a can’t-miss opportun...

On Monday, Dec. 8, the Trump Administration announced a new economic aid package for U.S. farmers that provided little meaningful relief for specialty crop growers. In this D.C. update, NPC CEO Kam Quarles joins us to discuss the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance's (SCFBA) reaction to the disappointing news. Quarles explains why the package's primary focus on crop producers impacted by t...

With the federal government back up and running, NPC CEO Kam Quarles and COO Mike Wenkel called into the Eye on Potatoes podcast this week to discuss the National Potato Council's top priorities for the next two months and provide updates on key labor and environmental regulatory efforts.  Join us as we take a deep dive into: Congressional priorities now that the government is reopened; key r...

Guests: Kam Quarles, CEO, National Potato Council Matt Lantz, Senior Vice President, Global Access, Bryant Christie The federal government shutdown is hitting U.S. potato growers where it hurts: market access and emergency relief. Tune in as NPC CEO Kam Quarles and global trade expert Matt Lantz break down the real-world costs of the continued lapse in funding. This week, we dive deep into major c...

National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles joins the podcast on September 11 to reflect on his experiences from 24 years ago and discuss the current state of affairs in Washington, D.C. He and host Lane Nordlund address the pending government shutdown, the implications of the "Make America Healthy Again" report, the possibilities for another round of economic relief, and the importance of p...

During the NPC Washington Summit in February, potato growers Alexandria Bare (Minn.) and Ryan Christensen (Idaho) joined us to discuss their experience in the 2025 Leadership Institute. This episode details the 2025 class's visit to Wisconsin, what they learned during the communication and media training courses, and how they will apply the Leadership Institute's teachings to their farms...

Earlier this summer, Congress and USDA delivered desperately needed funding for specialty crop growers, including our potato farmers, through a $2.5 billion injection of federal support through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program and the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Joining us to break down this game-changing news are Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council a...

During Potato Expo 2025, we were joined by Kam Quarles , CEO of the National Potato Council, and Andy Lavigne , President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), to dig into the future of potato growing with a fascinating topic: True Potato Seed Andy will shed light on ASTA's pivotal role in evolving plant breeding methods and genetic discovery, then he'll break down what...

The Trump Administration's "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) Commission report, spearheaded by Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., has ignited a major debate across the U.S. food and agriculture landscape. While the National Potato Council applauds the report's focus on a healthier America and increased fruit and vegetable consumption, certain recommendations are raising critical q...

Join us for a special episode dedicated to the Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation ( Potato LEAF )! Launched in January 2020 at Potato Expo, Potato LEAF is shaping the future of U.S. potato production through impactful leadership and educational programming, born from a vision to establish a long-term funding mechanism for the industry's growth. In this episode, we'll...

Nathan Gonzales is Editor & Publisher of Inside Elections , which provides nonpartisan analysis of campaigns for Senate, House, governor, and president. He's also co-host of the Inside Elections Podcast and an Elections Analyst for CQ Roll Call.  During the 2025 NPC Washington Summit, we sat down with Nathan to talk about the political trends coming out of the 2024 elections, the latest i...

U.S. EPA has made a concerted effort over the past several years to come into compliance with its obligations under the Endangered Species Act. Much of its efforts are driven by what is referred to as the Mega Suit by environmental groups, which are forcing deadlines on EPA to meet its obligations. During Potato Expo 2025, we sat down with two policy experts to talk about what the implementation o...

During the 2025 NPC Washington Summit, we caught up with Brett Jensen, the newly elected National Potato Council Vice President of Trade Affairs. We chatted with Brett about his operations in Idaho Falls, his previous chairmanships of the Idaho Potato Commission and Potatoes USA, and how his background supports his role in leading NPC's trade advocacy efforts.