Mr. Hyam — Describes PVMI as a joint venture for developing new potato varieties among Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.
Mr. Hyam — Compares U.S. university-based research with private-company research in other countries.
Mr. Hyam — Responds that public-domain access is possible, but control is still needed.
Mr. Hyam — Explains that royalties help fund the research while keeping seed accessible, and warns about private control of the seed chain.
Mr. Hyam — Contrasts private control with state-supported access and introduces broader industry problems.
Mr. Hyam — Says competition from China and India is increasing and affecting exports into Southeast Asia.
Mr. Hyam — Says the issue of sharing technology or products with foreign competitors is controversial and needs a decision soon.
Mr. Hyam — Introduces trade as the first major industry issue and says he has been tasked with assessing competition and subsidies.
Mr. Hyam — Says foreign prices may be subsidized and that Idaho's potato industry is facing a paradigm shift.
Mr. Hyam — Says rapid change, including AI, makes long-term planning difficult for the industry.
Mr. Hyam — Says AI is changing how people get information and that the industry must adapt to remain competitive.
Mr. Hyam — Discusses flat costs, high equipment prices, low open-market potato prices, and inflation.
Mr. Hyam — Says the new dietary guidelines place potatoes in the center of the pyramid and discusses GLP-1 drugs affecting food consumption.
Mr. Hyam — Cites research estimating that 8 to 12 percent of adults in U.S. households are on or have been on a GLP-1 drug.
Mr. Hyam — Continued discussing global potato production, noting China, India, and Africa as major or emerging production areas.
Mr. Hyam — Explained that labor costs in some countries are far lower than in Idaho, making competition difficult.
Mr. Hyam — Said Idaho has the best potatoes in the world and attributed that to Idaho's favorable weather and growing conditions.
Mr. Hyam — Compared Idaho's growing conditions favorably to other places and said China can find suitable conditions somewhere because of its size.
Mr. Hyam — Continued discussing China's business practices and competitive behavior in potato production.
Mr. Hyam — Explained export competition from nearby states and discussed Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, China, and India as market considerations.
Mr. Hyam — Said Mexico is the best export hope, with Japan as a second option, and noted Europe is too protective to be a realistic market.
Mr. Hyam — Argued that European disease-and-pest concerns function as a non-tariff trade barrier.
Mr. Hyam — Said import issues are affecting the market and joked that a presidential Truth Social post could open Japan to Idaho potatoes.
Mr. Hyam — Was asked to respond to the question about quality control.
Mr. Hyam — Explained that the commission has staff in stores monitoring quality and reporting problems.
Mr. Hyam — Explained why potatoes turn green and said bad product is not knowingly shipped because of cost.
Mr. Hyam — Attributed poor-looking Idaho potatoes to market rotation issues and said such cases are exceptions.
Lori McCann — Lori McCann asks about the University of Idaho’s potato seed research and education program, describing her own visit to the facility and an experience planting seedlings with the lieutenant governor. She then follows up by asking about the partnership with the university and the importance of keeping new potato varieties and techniques in the public domain rather than controlled by a private company.
Lori McCann — Representative McCann asked whether there are other export markets beyond Mexico for potatoes, specifically inquiring about up-and-coming countries that could help farmers boost their bottom line.
Steve Miller — Representative Miller asked whether potatoes grown in other nations are of the same quality as Idaho potatoes and whether there are any quality differences or issues.
Steve Miller — Mentioned as likely also being in JFAC.
Dori Healey — Representative Healy made a brief remark that, in her health care career, she had never heard Americans eating less described as a problem. She then followed up by acknowledging the concern, saying she appreciated the issue and found it to be a very interesting point.
Mr. Hymn — Identified Japan as a promising but brand-sensitive market for Idaho potatoes and noted competition from Oregon and Washington.
Douglas Pickett — Asked to follow up on the trade barrier discussion and referenced Idaho's trade missions.
Douglas Pickett — Suggested leveraging the Idaho brand in trade missions and bundling Idaho products together.
Douglas Pickett — Asked how long it takes to develop a new variety of seed.
Douglas Pickett — Followed up by asking about policy considerations to protect the brand and proprietary nature of the research.
Mr. Haim — Mr. Haim explained that developing a new potato variety is a long process that takes about 10 to 12 years, beginning at the nuclear level and continuing through growing, selecting from about a thousand plants, and propagating the seed out.
Mr. Hyann — Said some companies operate in both the U.S. and abroad, making it hard to control proprietary products, and contrasted U.S. IP respect with other countries.
David Leavitt — Representative Levin asked about concerns raised by Sugarbee growers regarding high-tier duties and import effects on the market, then followed up by asking whether the potato industry is experiencing similar import-related market impacts.
Sam Eaton — Sam Eaton of the Idaho Potato Commission discussed the industry’s export markets and tariff exposure. He identified Mexico and Canada as the primary export destinations and noted that because the industry is USMCA compliant, it largely benefits from tariff-free trade with those markets. He then explained that growers and industry members share receipts showing tariff line items, but the main impact of tariffs is indirect—raising input costs rather than directly affecting potato exports, with Canada and Mexico limiting the overall impact.
Jack Nelsen — Representative Jack Nelsen was recognized and asked how the commission ensures quality and prevents misuse of the Idaho potatoes label. Mr. Hyam responded directly to his question, addressing the issue in the same exchange.
Mr. Eaton — The chair thanked Mr. Eaton before moving to the next question.
Mr. Hym — The chair thanked the witness, though the name appears to be a transcription error for Mr. Hyam or Mr. Eaton.
Idaho Potato Commission representative — The Idaho Potato Commission representative described the commission’s annual national TV advertising campaign, noting budget constraints and explaining that the commercials are being adjusted to better appeal to younger consumers and those who eat lighter amounts of potatoes. The witness then concluded the presentation by thanking the committee for its time and support.
Amanda — Named in the commercial being shown to the committee.
Doug / Chad — The commercial reveals the character is actually Chad, not Doug, and emphasizes the grown in Idaho seal.
Christy Zito — The ABLE Vice Chair will conduct the meeting Friday morning.
Chris Mathias — Representative Mathias asked where license plate revenue appears in the budget.
Mr. Hyam — Explains that the license plate revenue was not budgeted because the commission had not yet received a check.