b'FROM OUR DESKWinter 2024 - Vol. 21, No. 1How Should We Sell Advancing the Canadian Potato IndustryPUBLISHED BY:SEED WORLD GROUP Fresh Potatoes? 6327435 Canada Ltd.200-449 Main Street, Box 478, Oakbank, MB, R0E 1J0Phone: 204-453-1965, Fax: 204-475-5247Email: [email protected] THIS YEAR I woke up to a flurry of messages to thePUBLISHERSpud Smart Facebook account. A disgruntled potato shopper hadShawn [email protected] across our magazines social media page and wanted toEDITORshare their grievances.Ashley [email protected] complaint was that they had bought potatoes at the storeDIRECTOR OF CONTENTand cooked them up, loving the way the potatoes cooked. The nextMadeleine [email protected] they went back to the store and bought a bag of potatoes fromMANAGING EDITORASHLEY ROBINSON,the same display, except when they went home and cooked theMichelle [email protected] Smart editor potatoes, they didnt perform as they had before. The potato shopperADVERTISING SALESwas complaining to us that the potato industry was lying about howCraig [email protected] Aiden [email protected] potatoes are sold. Dean [email protected] reply was to explain that we werent a potato company, but MARKETINGinstead a magazine for potato growers and therefore we personallyCharlene [email protected] help them out. While I did feel bad I couldnt help more,Laura [email protected] it got me thinking about how potatoes are sold in North America. ITheresa Ramsoomair [email protected] a conversation I had with Aron Derbridge at HZPC whereCREATIVEhe talked about the future he envisioned for fresh potato marketingLesley Nakonechny, Kyle Dratowanywhere potatoes would be sold by variety and not broad category. DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER So, I thought why arent they? Google wasnt much help, but I wasRebecca [email protected] to find that there were some regions such as Idaho which soldCIRCULATIONtheir spuds by variety. I knew there was more to this story. While itDean [email protected] specifically a concern for growers, it does impact growers asCONTRIBUTORSit causes frustration among their consumers, so I thought I shouldElaine Froese, Ellen Kouwenberg, Kevin Elmy, Ryan Barrett and look into it. The result is The Truth About Potato Marketing onTrevor Bacquepages 6 to 12. EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARDChad Berry, Darin Gibson, Greg Donald, Rick D. Peters, Scott This story was interesting to dive into as a potato consumerGraham, Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, Peter VanderZaagmyself. I started off with the belief that we should market potatoesSUBSCRIPTIONSby variety, but by the end I wasnt so convinced. As I talked withSpud Smart is published four times a year.Potatoes USA and learned about sensory profiles and with MarkTo subscribe, please email [email protected] at the Prince Edward Island Potato Board who pointed outCanadian subscription rate is: $45.00/year plus GST. the logistical issues, I realized it isnt that simple to sell by variety. International subscription rate is CDN$110.00/year.My personal conclusion is that I as a consumer now want to seek PRINTED IN CANADAPlease recycle where facilities exist.out more information about sensory profiles of potatoes and learnNo part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written more about the different potato types so that I can make even morepermission of the publisher. delicious potato dishes. While this may seem like a great conclusion,Spud Smart makes no expressed or implied warranties of it really isnt as it raises another point I found in my reporting, howmechantability or fitness for a particular purpose or otherwise, do we make every consumer not just myself, take the time to learnconcerning the use of any product and assumes no liability for any injury or damage, direct or consequential, incurred from the use of more about how to cook spuds? such products or services therein. Federal, provincial and municipal I dont have the answer to that question, but I do have some of thelaws and regulations supersede the information contained within. pieces that may help answer it in the future. The only way consumersPublications Mail Agreement No. 40030841.will learn more about the potatoes they buy is if the whole potatoReturn undeliverable Canadian addresses to:value chain from seed to grower to retailer to consumer workSeed World Grouptogether to learn about what each need and want when it comes200-449 Main Street, Box 478, Oakbank, MB, R0E 1J0to spuds. Maybe then I wont be waking up to disgruntled potatoPRIVACY CODEshopper messages on Facebook.To view our privacy policy, visit spudsmart.com.P.S. This is my last issue as editor. Ive enjoyed working with the SPUDSMART@SPUDSMARTMAG potato industry for the past four years and connecting to tell your stories, but its time for a change. I look forward to working with you again in the future, but for now, I want to thank you for welcomingWe acknowledge the [financial] support me into the industry and good luck with #plant24.of the Government of Canada.2SPUDSMART.COMWinter 2024'