Situation:
1. The Atkins diet and other factors have decreased the consumption of Fresh potatoes dramatically while production remains the same. Because supply outstrips demand potato prices continue to be significantly below production costs for the 3rd year in a row.
2. There are few buyers of potatoes and many sellers, thus the sellers are at the mercy of brokers who play one against another.
3. A lack of good information on supply and demand prevents growers and their representatives from making rational decisions on supply management and pricing.
4. There is no credible organization either in the State or nationally to coordinate and facilitate information gathering and exchange.
5.The Capper-Volstead Act allows producers to come together in coops to deal with supply and demand issues without the threat of anti-trust and price-fixing regulation. Other farm groups such as milk producers, peanut growers, and citrus growers have come together successfully to control supply and stabilize prices.
6. Idaho is leading the way in dealing with the issues of supply, demand, and pricing of fresh potatoes through the United Fresh Potato Growers of Idaho. They are going so far as to establish diversion programs. They have signed an overwhelming majority of their growers. Similar efforts are going on in other states.

Colorado’s Opportunity:

Organization: United Fresh Potato Growers of Colorado.

Mission: To bring order and stability to the Colorado fresh potato industry and increase our economic potential by the effective use of cooperative principles. To work with all segments of our industry to find opportunities to develop synergies and partnerships.

Goals: To develop an information gathering and exchange organization that will provide real-time credible information on potato inventories including size distribution and quality. To develop an organization that will develop supply, demand, and pricing control strategies to insure economic returns to potato growers. To establish an organization that will facilitate communications between growers, warehouses, potato buyers, bankers, and other segments of the industry.

Organization: A member owned coop with a Board of directors composed of potato growers.

Committees: Membership and Public Relations
Current Crop Supply and Pricing
Future Demand
Oversight and Accountability

Who may join: Any grower actively involved in the production of potatoes.

Conditions: Sign-up as a member through membership agreement.
$100 membership fee and $2.00 per acre of planted potatoes
Membership and acreage fee refunded if a grower opts out by March 1
Membership fee refund if grower opts out after March 1

Anticipated Result: By working together we will be able to restore economic stability and profitability to our fresh potato industry. . . . . . (click for print version)