Frank Muir is about to embark on his Whistle Stop tour. As chief executive of the Idaho Potato Commission Muir is going to hold meetings in five cities during the next three days to explain the commissions marketing plans for the coming year. It will include Muirs request for a higher tax on Idaho potatoes.

MUIR Im going to be talking about our marketing plan. Im going to be showing them the research results from our advertising heavy up test and were going to have a very open dialogue about the possibility of this tax increase that would go completely in support of increasing our ad campaign.

Right now Idaho growers put ten cents per hundredweight into the Potato Commission budget. Muir says increasing the tax to 15 cents would pump over four million dollars additional money into a campaign to promote the Idaho potato.

MUIR Make sure youre investing in the current year for future year profit growth and I think that if we do that and present it that way one that I think theres a more likelihood that the next generation will see a very healthy Idaho potato industry and one that theyll want their grandkids to participate in as well.

The first meeting is in Boise, at noon tomorrow. Then Muir will meet with growers and shippers on Wednesday morning in Burley, Wednesday noon in American Falls, Thursday noon in Blackfoot and Thursday evening in Idaho Falls.

Todays Idaho Ag News
Bill Scott