Potato Progress

Volume 23 Number 7

5 December 2023

Staff Changes at the NPRC

The Northwest Potato Research Consortium (NPRC) has been managed by Dr. Andy Jensen since inception in 2013. Andy will be retiring from his role in 2024. Raina Spence was hired in October 2023 and will be assuming the role of manager in the spring of 2024. During the interim months, Raina will work collaboratively with Andy and the research community to ensure that an informed and effective transition occurs.  

Having first served the potato industry as a graduate student studying potato late blight in the early 2000s, Raina brings decades of experience to her new role as the NPRC manager. Having a career that spans university extension work to international diplomacy, Raina most recently hails from the fresh produce food safety sector, where she has been a producer advocate and held leadership roles within the International Fresh Produce Association’s Food Safety Council. Raina may be reached at rspence@potatoes.com. 

‍Activity Updates

With the research submission and initial review process well underway for the 2024 field season, the NPRC Consortium Board and staff are looking for ways to continuously improve our stakeholder engagement. The priorities identified for the coming months include:

• Visiting individual researchers to survey support needs
• Visiting growers in Washinton, Oregon, and Idaho to assess research priorities
• Expanding methods of sharing NPRC research results through our website, social media, meetings, etc.
• Revised methods for assessing research output and compliance with all aspects of the funding and reporting process

Raina and Andy will be reaching out to many of you for input on the above topics and updates will be shared with the research community. Additionally, Raina will be present at several industry events this coming winter and spring. Please contact her to schedule a meeting and share your ideas about the onward efforts of the NPRC. 

‍Upcoming Meetings

• January 9th through 11th – Austin, TX – Potato Expo (Raina in attendance)
• January 15th through 18th – Pocatello, ID – Idaho Potato Conference (Raina in attendance)
• January 23rd to 25th – Kennewick, WA – Washington/Oregon Potato Conference (Raina and Andy in attendance). 
• February 13 and 14th, 2024 – Boise, ID – Research Consortium Meeting (Raina and Andy in attendance) 

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