DENVER (March 22, 2012)—Eric James of Elizabeth City, NC, was seated as a Board Member on the United States Potato Board (USPB) at the organization’s 40th Annual Meeting, March 15-16, in Colorado Springs, CO. He was named to serve on the Board by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on February 6, 2012, for a three-year term ending February 28, 2015. New Board Members serving on the USPB in their first three-year term can be reappointed to serve a second consecutive three-year term.
James has been farming at James Bros., Inc. for 15 years. He grows Superiors, Envols, Dark Red Norlands and Yukon Golds for table-stock. Corn and Soybeans are his rotation crops. “I am proud to be part of the fourth generation at James Bros., and I also look forward to seeing the fifth generation take part in the potato industry,” he said.
James served as the North Carolina Potato Association President in 2007-2008, and he is presently this organization’s Vice President. He is also a member of the Farm Bureau. When asked about unique abilities he brings to the industry, he responded, “As a younger generation farmer, I hope to continue to incorporate the latest technology in order to be more cost productive in the potato industry.”
James graduated Northeastern High School, Elizabeth City, NC. He is married to Jessica James, and they have three sons: Brenner (age 9), Ethan (age 7) and Ryan (age 5). James enjoys farming, spending time with his family, hunting and fishing.
Eric James was confirmed with fellow New and Re-Nominated USPB Board Members by Patricia Petrella, USDA-AMS Marketing Specialist, Fruit and Vegetable Programs (right side podium)at the 40th USPB Annual Meeting, Thursday, March 15, 2012, at The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, CO. Bob Keeney, USDA-AMS Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs (second from left), also welcomed and approved the confirmation of the new and returning USPB Board Members.
Authorized under the 1971 Potato Research and Promotion Act, the USPB is composed of producers, importers and a public member appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Producer members are nominated at state and local producer meetings and by mail ballot. Each state is entitled to at least one producer member, and additional members are allotted on the basis of the volume of production. Importer members are nominated by importers, and the number of members is related to the volume of imports, up to a maximum of five importer members.
The USPB administers an industry-funded national research and promotion program to increase US exports and domestic potato consumption. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service oversees the operations of the USPB. More information about the research and promotion programs is available at www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion.
For more information on the USPB as the nation’s potato marketing organization, positioned as the “catalyst for positive change,” and the central organizing force in implementing programs that will increase demand for potatoes, please visit www.uspotatoes.com.
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