Michigan potato industry tells House Ag Committee it contributes $2.5 billion annually and flags water, labor and land concerns

The Michigan House Agriculture Committee heard a presentation from industry representatives on the economic footprint and policy needs of the state’s potato sector, which an MSU economic-impact study put at about $2.5 billion annually.

Kelly Turner, who represents the Michigan Potato Industry Commission and the Potato Growers of Michigan, told the committee the study found roughly $1.5 billion in direct economic activity from growing, processing, wholesaling and retailing potatoes in Michigan and about $1 billion in related economic activity tied to consumption and ancillary industries. "We were like, wow. We're cooler than we thought we were," Turner said, summarizing the study results.

The nut graf: committee members were given figures and a policy agenda meant to underscore potatoes’ role in Michigan’s farm economy and food processing sector and to press for research, workforce and water-policy support that growers say the industry needs to remain competitive.

Turner and other presenters walked members through production breakdowns and industry structure. The presenters said Michigan produced about 1.9 billion pounds of potatoes two years ago across seed, fresh, processing and chipping categories. They said 20% of the crop is sold fresh, 5% is seed, 5% goes to processing other than chipping, and about 70% is grown for…