Sixth world potato congress and farm show registration is open!

Registration opens today for the Sixth World Potato Congress and Farm Show, slated for August 20-26, 2006, in Boise, Idaho, USA. To register online for the first World Potato Congress held in the United States, visit http://www.potatofoundation.com/WPC_2006/index.html.

The World Potato Congress, hosted by the National Potato Research and Education Foundation under the auspices of the Prince Edward Island, Canada-based World Potato Congress, Inc. and the United States Potato Board, will feature two and a half days of presentations from internationally-recognized leaders in the world potato industry, addressing up-to-the minute environmental, marketing, technology, nutrition, and crop protection issues.

A half-day session on Thursday, August 24 will address issues of particular concern to growers. After the Thursday morning session, Congress attendees will leave the beautiful Boise Centre on the Grove for the short drive to an international equipment exhibition and demonstration farm show, opening Thursday afternoon in Wilder, Idaho on the banks of the scenic Snake River. The demonstration farm show, expected to draw thousands of regional attendees in addition to Congress participants, wraps up on Saturday, August 26.

A week of Congress activities opens with the World Potato Congress Golf Tournament on Monday, August 21 at Boise’s BanBury Country Club. An All-American celebration in Julia Davis Park on the banks of the Boise River welcomes the world potato industry to the United States on Monday evening.

Congress sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be interspersed with a full slate of entertainment, networking, and sightseeing opportunities, including a visit to Idaho’s wine country for Congress spouses and guests; an optional visit back in time to the Old West of Idaho’s past at Bogus Ranch, and an optional whitewater run down the Payette River. Congress attendees will celebrate at a gala evening of fine food and entertainment at the Boise Centre on the Grove on Wednesday evening, before moving on to the Farm Show on Thursday afternoon.

The Sixth World Potato Congress is made possible by the generous support of the United States Potato Board and Boise-based Pinnacle Sponsor J.R. Simplot Company, as well as leading potato industry sponsors Syngenta Crop Protection, Rabobank International, and McCain Foods Limited.

For more information about the Sixth World Potato Congress contact Project Manager Monty Cox at (703) 245-8082 or mcox@potatofoundation.com. For information about the Sixth World Potato Congress Farm Show contact Mark Randall at R&R Productions (630) 557-2640 or contact@potatofarmshow.com.