The N.C. Potato Association is asking commercial Irish potato growers to take part in an upcoming referendum on whether to continue the statewide assessment program that finances research and promotional work for the sector. The vote will determine whether growers want to maintain a coordinated funding mechanism aimed at supporting production practices, marketing, and long-term industry competitiveness.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said the referendum provides growers with the opportunity to decide on the future of the program. "North Carolina potato growers have always shown a strong commitment to innovation and industry leadership," he said. "This vote gives growers the chance to continue a program that has benefitted growers and helped them remain competitive."
© N.C.PA
The assessment currently supports research projects with North Carolina State University, work on crop protection and fertility practices, and promotional activities highlighting N.C. potato production. Funds are used to evaluate new varieties, address production challenges, and maintain visibility in regional markets.
At the November N.C. Board of Agriculture meeting, N.C. Potato Association president Hunter Gibbs requested support for the referendum, which was granted for the proposed 2025–2031 assessment period.
Growers in Beaufort, Camden, Chowan, Hyde, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Tyrrell, and Washington counties will receive ballots by mail to vote on the continuation of the program for another six years. Approval by two-thirds of participating voters is required. The current assessment rate of one cent per hundredweight of potatoes sold would remain unchanged under the renewed program.
North Carolina remains one of the leading producers of chipping potatoes on the East Coast, supplying processors and fresh markets across the region. According to the association, continued investment in research and extension allows the sector to adjust to changing market and production conditions.
Completed ballots should be mailed to the Northeast Marketing Center, P.O. Box 2066, Elizabeth City, NC 27906, by Dec. 12.
For more information:
N.C. Potato Association
Tel: +1 984 303 7397
www.ncpotatoes.org
