Why Dominic LaJoie is The Packer’s 2023 Potato Person of the Year

WASHINGTON — It was personalities before policy to kick off the six-day 2023 National Potato Council Washington Summit — and one particular person whose calm, caring and thoughtful demeanor won him recognition he didn’t expect.

A fourth-generation potato grower from Van Buren, Maine, Dominic LaJoie’s way of handling tough issues and industry relationships earned him The Packer’s 2023 Potato Person of the Year.

As he accepted the award, LaJoie said how much he appreciated those who helped maintain his family business, LaJoie Growers, and home while he traveled. He thanked his friends in the potato industry who supported him as well.

“I’m very humbled right now and kind of speechless,” LaJoie said at the NPC annual meeting of the voting delegates and awards dinner.

Related news: New report shows potatoes are a ‘driving force of America’s prosperity’

For more than 15 years, LaJoie has served on the Maine Potato Board — spending two years as president of that organization — as well as the Maine Seed Potato Board. Then he served on the National Potato Council for more than eight years, including positions as first vice president and vice president for environmental affairs before the council elected him as president for the 2021 term. As immediate past president in 2022, LaJoie advised Jared Balcom, the acting president.

LaJoie led the council through its transition to working with the Biden-Harris administration, helping coordinate its ongoing response to the pandemic-altered potato industry and focusing on environmental and nutrition legislation.

Leading this council, fighting for the interests of U.S. potato growers and industry members, is a big job.

RJ Andrus, NPC’s first vice president and vice president of legislative affairs from Idaho Falls, Idaho, will take the helm as the 2023 president. “I’m truly honored to be succeeded by such a fine person,” Balcom said.

Learn on PMG: Potatoes, the commodity

Council members were in the nation’s capital to speak to legislators about the issues that affect the potato industry, including retaining the potato’s place in school nutrition programs; investing in potato science and research; balancing environmental and agricultural concerns; increasing exports; and ensuring foreign pests and disease are not introduced to U.S. potatoes.

On Feb. 28, a Michigan State University report was released, revealing the economic significance of the U.S. potato industry, with an estimated contribution of $100.9 billion in 2021.

This contribution stems from the following direct and indirect economic activity:

• $10.8 billion in agriculture production and agribusiness services.
• $49.1 billion in processing, wholesaling and retail.
• $41 billion in foodservice industries and household consumption.

U.S. potato exports are a big part of the industry too, and there was a monumental win on that front in 2022.

The first shipments of U.S. fresh potatoes crossed into Mexico May 11, after more than 25 years of regulatory and legal obstructions by Mexico and one year after the Mexican Supreme Court ruled unanimously that U.S. fresh potatoes were legally authorized to be imported.

NPC doesn’t give a Gold Potato Award every year, except on an occasion when someone really warrants it, Balcom said before honoring Matt Lantz, vice president of global access for Bryant Christie Inc.

“Any time we have an issue, he’s the first one on the line, working tirelessly,” Balcom said. “We can’t thank him enough verbally, so we wanted to give him this award. I can’t tell you how many times he’s stepped up for this industry.”

Lantz focuses on trade policy, working to open foreign markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and address international agricultural policy concerns.

“Next year will be the 25th year for this industry, and I love this industry. When we get the big victories, like Mexico, I am so, so happy for you,” Lantz said.