Progress in Chip Potato Commercialization, and DMN’s Role in Storage and Novel Table Varieties
This session will explore the work performed jointly between the 1,4GROUP, based in Meridian, Idaho, and the Potato Outreach Program at Michigan State over a number of years to understand the benefits of 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (DMN) application to seed and storage potatoes. This presentation will present data showing the effect of DMN on stem numbers and tuber set when seed applied. Also, trial results will be present showing DMN application effecting tuber weight loss, pressure bruise incident and respiration rate reduction, resulting in positive economic gain with application. The data spans multiple years and explores the reactions of different chip processing varieties. In addition, storage inlet time closer is investigated as to closure time impacting respiration rate and chip color/quality impacts.
Wednesday, January 29
11:15am-12:00pm
Traverse City/Saugatuck Room
About the Speakers
Chris Long and Bernie Pavlock
As Senior Potato Specialist and Leader of the Potato Outreach Program (POP), Chris Long, left, serves as the liaison between the Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences Department at Michigan State University (MSU) and the Michigan Potato Industry Commission (MPIC). As Program Lead of the POP, Long works to cultivate the potato industry through applied collaborative research. This is achieved through on-farm research and demonstration trials, grower focused informational meetings, and industry directed publications. The Potato Outreach Program’s responsibilities include conducting on-farm variety trials, coordinating research with faculty, agri-businesses and potato growers to achieve the application of newly developed technology. The Potato Specialist serves as a program advisor for the annual research farm field day at the Montcalm Research Center. Long also serves as the coordinator of the B. F. Cargill Demonstration Storage, and coordinator of the MPIC Annual Research Report. Long is an Ex-officio Board member of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission and Michigan Seed Potato Association. As the Potato Specialist, Long serves on the following industry related MPIC committees: Storage and Handling Committee, Research Committee, and the Variety Release Committee. The POP also conducts the national, SNAC-International and National Fry Processing Trials in Michigan. Long is a program manager for the Potatoes USA National Chip Variety Trial Program (NCVTP) and is a technical advisor to SNAC-International on potato production topics.
Bernie Pavlock graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1993 with a bachelor's in business management. In the fall of 1994, he started in the potato business with Max Herbold in Burly, Idaho, as a tablestock salesperson. From 1994 through 2023, his career progressed through the fresh potato industry from quality control, sales, management, new business development, and produce buying. 1,4GROUP hired him in April 2023 as a regional sales representative with a territory that covers North Dakota to Maine and every state in between that stores potatoes.
