Ted Tschirky elected president of National Potato Council

USA – At its annual Washington Summit, the National Potato Council (NPC) announced the election of Ted Tschirky as its new president for 2025.

The decision was made during the Annual Meeting of the Voting Delegates, where industry leaders gathered to discuss pressing concerns affecting potato farmers nationwide.

Tschirky, a third-generation farmer from Pasco, Washington, has been deeply involved in state and national potato organizations for over 20 years.

His previous roles include serving as NPC’s First Vice President and Vice President of Trade Affairs. Before stepping into leadership at NPC, he was an active member of the Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC), where he closely monitored national and international trade developments.

While working with WSPC, Tschirky saw firsthand how the NPC significantly influenced policies affecting potato growers. He frequently visited Washington, D.C., to advocate for his state’s potato industry.

Through those experiences, he recognized the importance of working with federal and state officials to ensure the long-term success of potato farming.

“As this year’s council president, I want to encourage our executive committee and board members to get involved with their state representatives as much as possible, which, in turn, helps build stronger relationships on the federal level,” Tschirky said.

“When it comes to policies affecting agriculture, it should be our goal for elected officials to come to us and ask how these rules and regulations would affect our business. It takes time to get to this point, so let’s commit to getting there at all levels.”

Tschirky’s passion for farming dates back to his teenage years. At 18, he participated in Future Farmers of America by growing potatoes for Lamb Weston.

His family’s agricultural roots go even deeper, with his great-grandparents migrating from Switzerland before settling in Oregon.

His father later established Tschirky Farms in Washington in the 1950s, focusing on growing potatoes for processing and developing storage facilities.

Today, the family business continues with the support of his wife, Merideth ‘Meri,’ and their sons, Tyler and Dylan. In 2025, Ted and Meri will celebrate 42 years of marriage, marking another milestone alongside his new leadership role at NPC.

The NPC’s role and priorities

The NPC operates under a Board of Directors and an Executive Committee, which oversee policy decisions and industry initiatives. As a grower-led organization, its members are elected annually based on recommendations from state potato producer groups.

The council serves as the voice of U.S. potato farmers in Washington, D.C., engaging with policymakers on regulations that impact the industry.

During the NPC 2025 Washington Summit, growers and industry stakeholders met with lawmakers and administration officials from February 24 to 28.

They focused on issues such as keeping potatoes in federal nutrition programs, supporting fair-trade agreements, and increasing research funding to sustain the industry’s future.

In 2024, U.S. potato production reached approximately 418 million hundredweight (cwt), marking a 5% decline from the previous year. The average yield stood at 453 cwt per acre, slightly lower than the 2023 figure of 458 cwt per acre.

Despite these fluctuations, potatoes remain a staple in American households, particularly in processed forms like chips and fries. The per capita consumption of potatoes in the U.S. is estimated to be around 49 pounds annually.

The industry, valued at over US$5 billion, continues to evolve with a focus on sustainable farming and product innovation. Stakeholders are working on strategies to maintain steady production while addressing market shifts and environmental concerns.

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