[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6322585,"mediaKeyId","2347211-379f708ced7e72595388d40e9ed49edd","parentId",2347211,"title","Idaho Potato Commission outlines $15 million revenue plan, marketing push and export concerns","audioSeconds",1147,"startMs",1906000,"endMs",3053000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347211-379f708ced7e72595388d40e9ed49edd&start=1906&end=3053","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347211-379f708ced7e72595388d40e9ed49edd/thumbnail_1906000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6322585/Idaho/Idaho-Potato-Commission-outlines-15-million-revenue-plan-marketing-push-and-export-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322585-d2003c228f7640da31fd701d6aa6fa7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773605399&Signature=dNsA~ItF8Qkj7x9VS1CBL0NqwEzOHToJx9IPUhCVvENX4K7-06DkfacITMVbIgc~~NTkiAHBJfvCJN-~CwcZ6Tv9KaarbHyD3XpXwlJhUCv-BEzp5LRkpPEEvXus3b2SHsk6qrEB1QyNSsrgpOq-LBGYotV48EBB~n-~zpMZWEgbC7DupnhkRW4HdUT30o36vkdRAEBrjamOh9qJZ9087-7y2aTphstsPe4UPtqG7MJQYZbd4OobJE4M4QHyFR8QEeyARA4xMm1TW80CKvF9i2w0tKCcKtVYRT-Vgta88LsrMnltcaaAf8KyszVDETQhDKws2F5AahGBi1EU5NRXHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Idaho Legislature","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Jamie Hyam, president of the Idaho Potato Commission, presented the commission’s finances, marketing efforts and industry concerns to the House Agricultural Affairs Committee.

Hyam said the commission expects roughly $15,000,000 in revenues for the year and explained the commission maintains reserves to cover multi‑year commitments; after covering planned commitments he said the reserves would leave about $776,000. Hyam said the commission planned to use part of reserves this year for promotional activity in Mexico as fresh‑potato access opens in that market.

Hyam described market pressures facing the industry: increasing processing capacity in China, competitive processed‑potato imports from the European Union (Belgium), and substantial freight‑cost disadvantages for moving product from Idaho’s production areas to some U.S. population centers. He said the United States is a net importer of processed potatoes (about 12 percent) and that China’s processing capacity growth could put additional pressure on U.S. suppliers.

Hyam described ongoing investments in variety research (drought tolerance, disease resistance) and storage research in partnership with the University of Idaho, and cited water availability, labor availability and farm‑succession as long‑term concerns. He said the commission spends significant funds on national television advertising (CNN, Fox, TBS family networks) to maintain the “Grown in Idaho” brand and noted a legislative effort to reintroduce a specialty Idaho license plate tied to the industry.

Members asked about marketing return on investment and retail prices. On ROI Hyam said the impact is difficult to measure directly but pointed to continued buyer demand and brand recognition: “When they think potatoes they need to think Idaho,” he said, noting the commission targets light users ages roughly 24–45. On pricing Representative McCann described seeing a 5‑pound bag priced at $0.99 in a local store and Hyam explained wholesale pricing is typically in 50‑pound units and that retail pricing reflects distributor and retailer markups; he said market prices vary with supply and demand.

Hyam closed by thanking members and encouraging commission outreach; no formal committee action on the commission report was recorded.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Agricultural Affairs - February 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Jamie Hyam, president of the Idaho Potato Commission, told the Agricultural Affairs Committee the commission expects roughly $15 million in revenue this year, is using reserves for Mexico promotions, and is concerned about processed‑potato competition, water and labor.","taxTitle","Agricultural Affairs, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Idaho","taxId",36736,"location","Idaho","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6322589,"Hop, apple and cherry commissions report shrinking acreage, uncertain markets and budgets",619,178000,797000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347211-379f708ced7e72595388d40e9ed49edd&start=178&end=797","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347211-379f708ced7e72595388d40e9ed49edd/thumbnail_178000.jpg","/articles/6322589/Idaho/Hop-apple-and-cherry-commissions-report-shrinking-acreage-uncertain-markets-and-budgets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322589-dd185c8369a1557780a0e612a2bd6262/orig.mp4?Expires=1773605399&Signature=K58HBeMij8Pa5K2fksvm6VApY61PqyWRYjWXxWOR35YIRLEuO5dNIrGXEmoH6JgGCU4WM2udrHPQkr3ZRM3KQ048QsPCpbP17mtF5E7h8go0hyTlBNQCd8Zu~LlKGJWOU7qoo5wYKuY0fz63BuYVyq8txYfe9PtYD95rMoK1CnlsBFskAOaRlkgQxQUwA~X177kPjVHhzANWPs5bf4~-h8Pluv1W~HgGHZSq3fGXd8JrgHLYf~EQs2CrqxkjjxeYlldljpe8YYIt8R6wrVt4LrczJJi3e8NhrsjC2cxK3HcMuMXVrzX3eiDpmSZV-sG9TAmkmZ~bDBbm0qSYIvDnzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Candy Fitch, executive director for the Idaho Apple Commission, Idaho Cherry Commission and Idaho Hop Growers Commission, briefed the committee on market conditions, membership activity and budgets across the three commissions.

Fitch said the U.S. national hop report released in December 2024 showed U.S. hop production down 16 percent year‑over‑year, harvested area down 18 percent and total value of production down 21 percent; the report also showed average hop yield higher by 29 pounds. She told the committee Idaho hop acreage has fallen — the report showed 9,561 acres in 2022 and 5,797 acres in 2024 — and additional reductions were expected for 2025. Fitch described the current industry challenge as an oversupply in prior years and softer demand as some consumers shift from beer to other beverages.

On budget matters Fitch said the hop commission based its 2024–25 budget on 61,657 bales (down from prior assumptions) and estimated assessments at about $129,480; total income including grants was listed at $355,001.75 (Fitch noted grant revenue varies and that figures were estimates). She described specialty‑crop grants as an important source for marketing and research for smaller commodity commissions.

On apples, Fitch said Idaho’s production has fallen from nearly 5 million bushels in the commission’s first assessment year to roughly 1.5 million in a full crop year; the commission’s 2025–26 budget was presented at $553,530 and the commission pays $12,580 as its share of the joint office rent. Fitch traced long‑term decline in apple acreage to market pressures (including low‑price juice imports in the late 1990s), retirements and competition from larger producing states.

On cherries, Fitch said Idaho averages about 1,400 tons annually and that 2024 produced a relatively large crop but weak prices because many producers had cherries in the market. Fitch outlined marketing activity across the commissions, including in‑store sampling at a Boise Albertsons, hop tours and booths at local festivals such as Wild West Brewfest and Hops and Crops at Indian Creek Plaza.

Members pressed Fitch on labor and H‑2A costs. Representative McCann asked, “Have they been plowing those fields under, selling them for development? What happened to all of the acres of fruit trees?” Fitch replied that low prices in past years, retirements and growers leaving the business contributed to acreage loss. On wage costs for the H‑2A program Fitch said she was not certain of the exact current figure but estimated about $16 per hour and offered to provide follow‑up details; Representative Miller and other members cited $16.48 per hour as the pay rate used in certain agricultural worker calculations and reiterated housing and transport are required components of H‑2A employments.

Fitch also listed commission memberships and leadership: the Hop Research Council, Hop Growers of America, U.S. Hop Plant Protection Committee, Northwest Horticultural Council, Northwest Fruit Exporters, U.S. Apple and local programs including BuyIdaho and Idaho Preferred. She identified commissioners and representatives by farm or company in the written packet (names listed in the packet included Oliver Schroeder; Diane Gooding of Gooding Farms; Brock Obendorf; Nate Jackson; Mark Hansen; John Sims/Simms and others as commissioners or alternates across the apple, cherry and hop commissions). Fitch closed by noting the commissions rely on small staff and cost‑share arrangements across several commodity groups that share an office.","Candy Fitch, executive director for Idaho’s hop, apple and cherry commissions, told the House Agricultural Affairs Committee that U.S. hop production and Idaho hop acreage have declined, specialty‑crop grant funding supports marketing, and growers face labor and market‑demand pressures including H‑2A costs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6322594,"Committee approves docket 02-0801-2401 after staff explains veterinary-inspection permits",79,95000,174000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347211-379f708ced7e72595388d40e9ed49edd&start=95&end=174","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347211-379f708ced7e72595388d40e9ed49edd/thumbnail_95000.jpg","/articles/6322594/Idaho/Committee-approves-docket-02-0801-2401-after-staff-explains-veterinary-inspection-permits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322594-c67a431ae430b8e624ea557c106ea02a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773605399&Signature=laPllDJSBaaYYd1sY3wiHfcDl2ewCbTAAczS7WpmwsPr4qMkTRXz6hSkVPs6SG3h4hSjhbupb~de~-Pr4dX~Ou1t41ZSUxmthTQlakhc7JgV~ucXHU6iQpyCSniWv0YS39DkxE1QUsbXNN8vnhgE6kdHcvl9PrdnMEZx73n19fuo8J9XxxVLPWqDOzM2ud8qMK0GZDicad7CFvrDdBCUoT~vHD9LVuFXDLoR~mhwrldzNdv8-HtnakHeX9Lw-LY0DrQWO3ys0iYmSo-Mg~Xm3n1AW7g~hcqr4PkkK0IXMY6u0pg~-g8Mcw2ekQg-7f99IyzFyrOliik~fVCJupMOgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Shirts moved to approve docket 02-0801-2401, and the committee approved the docket by voice vote after brief questions about animal entry permits.

Candy Fitch's predecessor staff member Miss Mink (committee staff/agency representative) explained that certified veterinary inspections and the state entry permits are linked procedures intended to ensure animals arriving from out of state are cleared before entry: “That’s part of the certified veterinary inspection … it ensures that we get the permit before the animal comes into the state,” she said in response to a member’s question about out‑of‑state animals entering for short‑timeline jackpot shows.

Representative Shirts made the motion on the docket, saying, “Mister chairman, I move to approve docket number 02-0801-2401.” The chair called for discussion, and after no further questions the chair said, “Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion passes.”

The committee record does not include a roll‑call tally; the committee adopted the docket by voice vote. No amendments or follow‑up tasks were recorded in the meeting minutes for this docket.","The Idaho House Agricultural Affairs Committee approved docket 02-0801-2401 by voice vote after staff described how certified veterinary inspections and entry permits work for short‑timeline livestock “jackpot” shows.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Idaho Potato Commission outlines $15 million revenue plan, marketing push and export concerns

Hop, apple and cherry commissions report shrinking acreage, uncertain markets and budgets

Committee approves docket 02-0801-2401 after staff explains veterinary-inspection permits