LANSING, Mich. — Michigan’s potato growers have approved a referendum to continue the Michigan Potato Industry Commission.

The Michigan Potato Industry Commission was designed to promote the potato industry through research, promotion, advertising, and market development and expansion. By law, the program must be renewed every five years.

The Commission will continue for an additional five years beginning July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2027. Currently, the grower assessment is 4 ½ cents, not to exceed 5 ½ cents, per hundredweight and 1 ½ cents for the first handler (shipper). The assessment rate is established annually by the Commission.

A total of 15 ballots were cast in the referendum. Of the 15 ballots received to vote for the continuation of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission, all fifteen producers voted yes (100 percent) representing 7,740,900 hundredweight (100 percent), a unanimous decision.

For renewal of the program and its activities, more than 50 percent of the voting producers, representing more than 50 percent of hundredweight produced by those voting, must have approved it.

For more information, visit https://www.mipotato.com/.

— Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development