National Potato Council Honors Industry Leaders

At the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2011 Annual Meeting, held January 7- 8 in Las Vegas, industry leaders were honored.

Seed grower Maryls Bedlington, proprietor of Pure Potato in Lynden, Wash., was honored with the Seed Grower of the Year award. The award is presented to annually to a seed grower who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership both on the farm and throughout the potato industry.

Bedlington’s tissue lab and greenhouses develop and provide seed stock for private owners of potato varieties as well as growers of standard varieties.

She collaborated with Slow Food Seattle, the Makah Nation, Charles R. Brown at the USDA Agricultural Research Station in Prosser, Wash., the Seattle Chefs Collaborative, and Full Circle Farm on development of the Ozette fingerling.

Pure Potato grows 30 varieties, including fingerlings and the colored flesh varieties under investigation for the healthful benefits of their antioxidant content.