Eye on Potatoes: A Podcast on All Things Potatoes

Deep in the Heart of Texas: Previewing Potato Expo 2026

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

D.C. Update: Specialty Crop Growers Dissapointed with Farm Aid Package

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On Monday, Dec. 8, the Trump Administration announced a new economic aid package for U.S. farmers that provided little meaningful relief for specialty...

Back in Session: Congressional Priorities and Regulatory Updates

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Federal Shutdown Week 2: Trade Fallout, Japan Access, and Emergency Aid

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Guests:Kam Quarles, CEO, National Potato CouncilMatt Lantz, Senior Vice President, Global Access, Bryant ChristieThe federal government shutdown is hi...

D.C. Update: Reflections on 9/11 and the Potential Government Shutdown

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 stat...

Revisiting the Impact of the 2025 Leadership Institute

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During the NPC Washington Summit in February, potato growers Alexandria Bare (Minn.) and Ryan Christensen (Idaho) joined us to discuss their experienc...

The $2.5 Billion Breakthrough: A Deep Dive into Specialty Crop Support

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this summer, Congress and USDA delivered desperately needed funding for specialty crop growers, including our potato farmers, through a $2.5 b...

Seeding the Future: Unpacking True Potato Seed

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 T...

MAHA and its implications on food & farm policy

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump Administration's "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) Commission report, spearheaded by Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., has igni...

Cultivating Tomorrow's Leaders: Potato LEAF's Five-Year Anniversary

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for a special episode dedicated to the Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF)! Launched in January 2020 at Pota...

2025 Political Outlook with Nathan Gonzales

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nathan Gonzales is Editor & Publisher of Inside Elections, which provides nonpartisan analysis of campaigns for Senate, House, governor, and presi...

Endangered Species Act Update

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

Meet Brett Jensen, NPC VP of Trade Affairs

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During the 2025 NPC Washington Summit, we caught up with Brett Jensen, the newly elected National Potato Council Vice President of Trade Affairs. We c...

Tariff Volatility: NPC Analyzing Impact on Growers

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On April 9, President Trump announced he would pause "reciprocal" tariffs on dozens of non-retaliating countries for 90 days while raising d...

Checking in with NPC Leaders Ted Tschirky and Dean Gibson

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During February's NPC Washington Summit, we sat down with incoming NPC President Ted Tschirky of Tschirky Farms in Pasco, Wash, who talked about ...

What's Next for Ag Labor Policy?

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During January's Potato Expo 2025, we sat down to talk about one of the most pressing issues impacting the agricultural community: labor. Joinin...

The Moving Tariff Target

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While a hot-button topic, the tariff issue has been a moving target. When U.S. potato growers met last week at the NPC Washington Summit, we had quest...

Dietary Guidelines, Federal Nutrition Regulations, and How Growers Could be Impacted

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During Potato Expo 2025, we sat down to talk about the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans process and the report issued late last year by the DGA S...

2025 Potato LEAF Leadership Programs

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, and it continues to be an in...

U.S. Potatoes in Mexico: Maintaining and Enhancing Export Market Access

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The opening of Mexico to fresh table stock exports has created significant benefits for U.S. producers, Mexican consumers and even Mexican growers as ...

LIVE from Potato Expo: What Can We Expect from a New Administration and Congress?

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During Potato Expo 2025 in Orlando, Florida, we sat down with NPC CEO Kam Quarles and Randy Russell, President of The Russell Group, to reflect on the...

NPC's 2024 Wrapped with President Bob Mattive

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With 2024 quickly coming to a close, we checked in with National Potato Council President Bob Mattive and NPC CEO Kam Quarles to look back on a busy y...

Potato Expo Preview: Global Ag Futurist Jack Uldrich

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s “bleeding edge” and “cutting edge” technologies are moving into the mainstream at a breakneck pace, and yesterday’s science fictio...

2024 Election Recap with Randy Russell

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One week after the 2024 General Election, there's a lot we know (and even more we don't know) about the prospect for pro-potato and pro-agri...

LIVE from Tokyo! NPC Pushes for Access in Japan

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

NPC CEO Kam Quarles and trade consultant Matt Lantz from Bryant Christie, Inc. traveled to Japan this week to advance the industry’s trade priority ...

The ROI of Ag Research

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Research is a critical tool as we work to feed a growing population here in the U.S. and around the world. During each NPC Washington Summit, the Nati...

D.C. Update: Congress is back but big issues loom before Election Day

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With portions of the Farm Bill starting to expire and a federal shutdown looming should Congress fail to act by Oct. 1, NPC CEO Kam Quarles called int...

Let's meet 2024-25 Potato LEAF Scholarship Recipient Sylvia Zhang

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) recently announced Sylvia (Xiuyan) Zhang, a Ph.D. student at the University...

Previewing the upcoming U.S./Japan bilateral on fresh potato access

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Japan is a significant market for U.S. processed potatoes, but as we’ve discussed a few times on this program, no U.S. fresh potatoes are allowed in...

Industry Update: Latest efforts to prevent the spread of PEI Potato Wart

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been a year since we last checked in on the potato wart situation in Prince Edward Island, Canada. This week, we sat down with Kam Quarles, CEO...

Speaking with a unified voice through the American Potato Trade Alliance

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For this week's Eye on Potatoes Podcast, we caught up with Matt Lantz and Adam Hollowell from Bryant Christie, Inc., who are in D.C. for a meetin...

DC Update: Farm Bill Clears House Ag Committee

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

NPC CEO Kam Quarles joined Eye on Potatoes podcast host Lane Nordlund to discuss the House version of the 2024 Farm Bill, which was passed by the Hous...

Enhancing Growers’ Competitiveness: A Discussion with National Organization Leaders

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

During Potato Expo 2024, Lane Nordlund, host of the Eye on Potatoes Podcast, sat down with the leaders of three national potato organizations for a co...

D.C. Update: Potato Debate Makes The Tonight Show

26 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Just when you thought NPC's efforts to keep potatoes defined as a vegetable couldn't gain more media attention, in comes Jimmy Fallon, who p...

Spudding Innovation: The State of AI for the Potato Industry

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence is focused on building smart machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human in...

Potatoes Gone Viral! Reaching the TikTok Generation

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Steve Lerch is a former Google executive, a consultant, and an award-winning international speaker. He spent nearly a decade at Google designing digit...

Mexico – Two Years After Access

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

UPDATE: Due to scheduled construction at The Mirage Las Vegas, the National Potato Council moved the location of Potato Expo 2025 to the Orlando World...

A Discussion with NPC Grower-leaders RJ Andrus and Bob Mattive

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

During Potato Expo 2024, National Potato Council 2023 President RJ Andrus and First Vice President Bob Mattive sat down to reflect on their time on th...

Farm Policy and a Dysfunctional Washington, D.C.

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Farm Bill expired in September 2023, and the dysfunction in Washington, D.C. continues to threaten this essential rewrite of our nation’s farm p...

2024 Weather Signals with Meteorologist Andrew Pritchard

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

U.S. potato production is weather-sensitive and risk associated with adverse weather can derail a well-managed operation very quickly. During Potato E...

Potato Expo Preview: Ace Hardware Spokesperson Chef Jason Morse

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

More Americans than ever before are firing up their grills, smokers, or flattops (sometimes all at the same time!) to make complete meals outside of t...

Potato Expo Preview: Culinary Medicine for Healthy Lifestyles

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Potatoes USA is at the forefront of promoting healthy lifestyles and culinary excellence with the versatile potato. Chef RJ Harvey calls in to preview...

Counting Down to Austin: Potato Expo 2024 Preview!

17 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Potato growers and industry partners from around the world will descend on the Austin Convention Center, Jan. 10-11, for Potato Expo 2024, which will ...

Satisfying the Global Potato Demand

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A 10-time Potato Expo attendee and frequent stage speaker, Cedric Porter, editor of World Potato Markets, called into the Eye on Potatoes podcast to d...

Confronting Politics – Overcoming More Than 20 Years of Delays In Japan

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To support the U.S. potato industry in its three-decade-old effort to open Japan's market to U.S. fresh potatoes, National Potato Council CEO Kam...

FLASH D.C. Update: McCarthy out as House Speaker ... now what?

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With Rep. Kevin McCarthy out as Speaker of the House, National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles calls into the Eye On Potatoes podcast to discuss how th...

Defending Potatoes in the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Process

08 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we chatted about the formulation of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and how the U.S. potato industry is working to ensure th...

Lessons Learned at the 2023 Potato Industry Leadership Institute

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The 2023 Potato Industry Leadership Institute brought together outstanding potato growers and industry representatives for eight days of training and ...

D.C. Update: August Recess, FY24 Spending, 2024 Farm Bill, PEI Potato Wart and more!

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As Congress takes a break for its annual August recess, NPC keeps on truckin' by keeping tabs on problematic amendments to the FY24 Ag Appropriat...

Reflections on the 2023 EPA/USDA Agency Farm Tour Hosted in Washington State

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The National Potato Council's annual EPA-USDA Farm Tour allows federal regulators the opportunity to meet with growers face-to-face to better und...

Celebrating 20 Years of the Potato Industry Leadership Institute

07 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Previously administered by the National Potato Council (NPC), the Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI) is a program of the Potato Leadership, E...

Mid-Year DC Check-In: Japan, WOTUS, Farm Bill and more!

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With NPC President RJ Andrus and Eye on Potatoes podcast host Lane Nordlund both in town for meetings, we pulled together an in-person(!) discussion o...

View from the Top – A Conversation with National Potato Council Presidents

26 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

During Potato Expo 2023, the Eye on Potatoes podcast brought together the National Potato Council’s current, incoming, and immediate past presidents...

Defining Regenerative Agriculture in Potato Production

12 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Regenerative Agriculture has become a new term for production agriculture, and everyone is wondering what it means. During Potato Expo 2023, leaders i...

CEO Roundtable: Teamwork Across the Potato Industry

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

During Potato Expo 2023, key association CEOs throughout the U.S. potato industry came together for a live podcast recording focused on current and fu...

An update on Mexico and other potato trade efforts

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The full Mexican market for fresh U.S. potatoes was finally opened in the Spring of 2022, culminating a decades-long effort to tap into that massive m...

Political Forecasting with Charlie Cook: Where are we headed and how did we get here?

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Long-time NPC Washington Summit favorite Charlie Cook sat down with Eye on Potatoes host Lane Nordlund before his address to 2023 Summit attendees for...

New NPC President RJ Andrus and VP Dean Gibson on the Industry's Impact on the Country

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After taking the gavel as NPC's 2023 President, RJ Andrus of Idaho Falls, Idaho, along with VP of Legislative Affairs Dean Gibson of Paul, Idaho,...

Potato Growers Get Ready for the 2023 Washington Summit

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Each year as the blossoms start their bloom, U.S. potato growers descend on Washington, D.C. to advocate for federal policies that support their farms...

Sustainable Potato Production: Always Growing and Improving

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The potato industry has a great story to tell about the efforts underway to sustainably produce America's favorite vegetable. During Potato Expo ...

Ted Allen, Duff Goldman, and Simon Majumdar at Potato Expo 2023

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time at Potato Expo 2023, attendees were treated to a special potato-themed cook-off, “This Spud’s for You – Celebrity Chef Editio...

Potato Expo Preview: Putting the Potato at the Center of the Plate

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Chefs RJ Harvey and Jason Morse are not only contestants in the This Spud’s for You – Celebrity Chef Edition cook-off at next week’s Potato Expo...

Potato Expo Preview: Creating a Culture of Innovation with Former Google Executive Steve Lerch

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Given the inherent unpredictability of our modern world, businesses can no longer rely on that one great idea, product, or strategy. Former Google exe...

Midterm Election Recap with The Russell Group's Tyson Redpath and Jessica Schulken

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As the final ballots are still being tallied, control of both the U.S. Senate and House remain hanging in the balance. To help make sense of it all, B...

Congressman Frank Lucas on Protecting Farmers from SEC Climate Overreach

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In late September, Congressman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) introduced the "Protect Farmers from the SEC Act" -- a bill that would prohibit the U.S...

Throwback Thursday! Food Network Chef Simon Majumdar at Potato Expo 2022

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we prepare for Potato Expo 2023, Jan. 4-5 in Aurora, Colorado, we throw it back to an interview we conducted last January with author, chef, and Fo...

Increasing Demand for Potatoes with Kim Breshears, Potatoes USA's Chief Marketing Officer

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kim Breshears, Chief Marketing Officer at Potatoes USA, joins the podcast to talk about how her and her team are working to strengthen the demand for ...

Harvest Check-In: Colorado's Bob Mattive

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As harvest begins in earnest around the country, we check in with Bob Mattive, partner at Worley Family Farms in Monte Vista, Colorado, for an update ...

Getting to Know 2022-23 Academic Scholarship Recipient Paige Hickman

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) recently announced that Paige Hickman, a Ph.D. student at the University of...

Inflation Heats Up: Checking in with Ag Economics Experts

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With record-breaking inflation numbers coming out of the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, we checked in with University of Idaho Assistant Profess...

NPC’s Opposition to Government Climate Overreach

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this year, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a proposed greenhouse gas disclosure rule that would require publicly trad...

Mexico and Farm Bill Updates and Preview of the NPC 2022 Summer Meeting

10 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles calls in from the swamp to update growers on key trade and policy issues moving in Washington, D.C. Plus Kam p...

BREAKING: U.S. Fresh Potatoes Cross into Mexico

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time in 25 years, U.S. fresh potatoes crossed into Mexico on May 11 destined for markets beyond the previous 26-kilometer restricted are...

Washington Summit LIVE! Taking Stock of the 2022 Leadership Institute

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Each year, the Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI) brings together outstanding potato growers and industry representatives for eight days of t...

Potato Industry Sustainability: Learning, Creating, and Telling our Story

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sustainability and climate change continue to be a part of the conversation, both in policy discussions and within the potato supply chain. During Pot...

2022 NPC President Jared Balcom and VP RJ Andrus on the Industry's Unified Voice in D.C.

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fresh off his election as NPC's 2022 President, Jared Balcom of Pasco, Washington, along with NPC VP of Legislative Affairs RJ Andrus of Idaho Fa...

Political Analyst Amy Walter: What's Shaping Today's Political Climate

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For more than 25 years, Amy Walter has built a reputation as an accurate, objective, and insightful political analyst with unparalleled access to camp...

Nutrition Regulations – How Will They Impact Your Business? 

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Food insecurity, climate change, and sustainability are not words typically associated with the nutritional value of food. Even so, as USDA sets the s...

LIVE from Potato Expo! Inflation Forecasting with Univ. of Idaho Ag Economists Pat Hatzenbuehler and Liang “Jimmy” Lu

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How is inflation related to changes in the post-pandemic global economy? What non-pandemic-related factors have been influential in causing higher pri...

Knocking on the Mexican Fresh Access Door, and other International Trade Efforts

06 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Two years after the U.S. potato industry celebrated the Mexican Supreme Court's unanimous ruling in favor of allowing U.S. fresh potato imports, ...

Let's Get Cooking Potato Expo Preview with Chef RJ Harvey

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

RJ Harvey joined Potatoes USA in 2017 as its Culinary Director, where he develops flavors, ideas, and concepts for the U.S. potato industry. RJ called...

PEI Potato Wart Update: Clear and Troubling Sampling Reduction Leaves Questions Unanswered

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In light of the multiple potato wart finds on Canada’s Prince Edward Island (PEI), during a meeting of the Potato Association of America on December...

Signed Operational Work Plan Signals Positive Momentum for Mexico Fresh Market Access

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On Nov. 6, Mexico's National Service for Agricultural Health, Food Safety, and Agri-Quality (SENASICA) published the Phytosanitary Requirement Sh...

Finishing Strong: 2021 President Dominic LaJoie on NPC's Fall Policy Efforts

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the NPC Executive Committee together this week for their first in-person meeting in D.C. since February 2020, President and Maine potato grower D...

A Conversation with 2021-22 Academic Scholarship Recipient Thilani Jayakody

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Thilani Jayakody, a third-year graduate student in the Michigan State University’s Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, was recently an...

Fighting Against Tax Hikes on Family Farms

07 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

National Potato Council Vice President of Legislative Affairs JR Andrus from Idaho joins CEO Kam Quarles for a discussion on proposals being floated i...

The State of the Industry Mid-Year Report

23 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

NPC 2021 President and Maine potato grower Dominic Lajoie and NPC CEO Kam Quarles sat down with us to preview next week's Summer Meeting Virtual ...

Potato Growers Join the Climate Change Fight

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Farmers, ranchers, and forest owners are on the frontlines of climate change and have an important role to play in developing solutions. That shared u...

Fresh Market Outlook from UPGA’s Mark Klompien

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, the Eye on Potatoes podcast welcomed Mark Klompien, President and CEO of United Potato Growers of America, to provide an outlook for remain...

Good Leaders Never Stop Learning

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Leadership Institute Alumni Summit, July 13-15, will bring together Potato Industry Leadership Institute graduates to network, refresh skills, and...

Mexico Overturns Ban on Fresh U.S. Potatoes!

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After years of delay, on April 28, Mexico's Supreme Court unanimously ruled to overturn a lower court decision that prevented the Mexican federal...

D.C. Update: Leadership Summit, Academic Scholarship, and Political Interference in Mexico

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

National Potato Council COO Mike Wenkel calls in to talk about the upcoming Leadership Institute Alumni Summit, to be held July 13-15, which will virt...

The Deteriorating U.S.-Mexico Ag Trade Relationship

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, the National Potato Council and 26 leading food and agriculture associations sent a letter to USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack and U.S. Trade ...

Priorities of 2021 President Dominic LaJoie and Review of the Potato D.C. Fly-In

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dominic LaJoie of Van Buren, Maine was elected to serve as National Potato Council's 2021 President and to head the grower-led organization’s E...

Reflections on an Unusual Year with Outgoing NPC President Britt Raybould

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As U.S. potato grower prepare to gather (virtually) for the 2021 National Potato Council Annual Meeting, Feb. 22-25, we sat down with 2020 NPC Preside...

Ag Labor Solutions – Is 2021 the Year Congress Delivers?

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

During Potato Expo 2021, Craig Regelbrugge, Senior Vice President of AmericanHort, joined NPC CEO Kam Quarles for a discussion about how the new polit...

Looking back on COVID relief efforts and waking up to a new Washington

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hundreds of millions of dollars in pandemic relief. Historic federal potato purchases. Categorizing agriculture as essential. It's hard to keep t...

Potato Expo Preview: Roy Spence and the Power of Purpose

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Back by popular demand, Roy Spence is returning to Potato Expo! Roy is the co-founder & chairman of GSD&M, and co-founder & CEO of The Pu...

Potato Expo Preview: The Potato World Post-COVID

11 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The impact of the COVID outbreak and subsequent lockdowns vastly impacted consumers' eating, shopping, and cooking patterns. In a preview of his ...

2020 Election Analysis and Gameplan for Next Congress

04 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Leading agriculture political advisor Randy Russell of The Russell Group joins National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles and host Lane Nordlund for an i...