April 13, 2007

LANSING--Michigan potato growers have an opportunity to vote on whether to continue the Michigan Potato Industry Commission in a referendum conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA). The referendum will begin Monday, April 16, 2007 and run through Friday, April 27, 2007.

Ballots were mailed to potato growers on Friday, April 13, 2007.

The Michigan Potato Industry Commission was developed to foster, develop, and promote the potato industry through research, promotion, advertising, market development or expansion, education, and the development and dissemination of market and industry information. By law, the program, established in 1970 and last amended in 1996, must be renewed every five years. Currently, the producer assessment is 3 ½ cents per hundredweight and 1 ½ cents for the first handler.

For the program to be renewed, more than 50 percent of the producer votes cast, representing more than 50 percent of the total hundredweight represented on the cast ballots, must approve it.

For the purpose of this referendum, each grower is entitled to one vote representing a single firm, individual proprietorship, corporation, company, association, partnership, or husband-wife or family ownership. All ballots must be filled out completely, signed and postmarked by April 27, 2007, and should be sent to MDA, Executive Office, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909.

Eligible growers with questions or those who have not received a ballot should contact MDA toll-free at 800/292-3939.