2008 potato conference arrives in Moses Lake

Event puts $3 million into community

MOSES LAKE - The Washington State Potato Conference and Trade Show brings a boost to the Moses Lake economy in the middle of a slow period.

So said Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Doran-Martinez of the annual event, which begins tonight with an early bird reception at the Best Western Lake Inn and Conference Center. The conference lasts through Thursday.

"It has a huge impact on our economy," she said. "We anticipate approximately $3 million will be pumped into the economy when you factor in the dollars spent here in our community typically turns seven times. We also anticipate over 1,000 visitors, so we definitely are hopeful all of our beds in hotel rooms will be booked to capacity."

Some hotels still have a few vacancies left, Doran-Martinez said.

"Any time we have heads in beds, that means those people are typically eating in our restaurants and shopping in our shops, so it definitely helps our economy in typically a slow time of year for us," she said.

Conference chairman Dale Lathim said the conference attendance goal is about 2,000 people.

Lathim said there are not a lot of changes in store this year.

"Pretty much right at this moment, the pattern seems to be working very well," Lathim said. "We have the keynote speaker, we have the trade show, we have very good topics at the conference. It's kind of one of those things, if it's not broke, don't fix it."

The event serves to bring together potato industry members to talk about what's new, what's working and what isn't.

"Hopefully when everybody goes away from the conference, they feel like it was worth their time and they learned something that may help them be a better potato farmer, or a better supplier, or somehow be a better part of the industry," Lathim said.

Washington State Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt said the conference serves as a showcase for the roughly $800,000 invested by growers per year into potato research. The money is used to leverage numerous federal and state programs, he said.

"We bring a lot of research to Washington State and the potato conference is really our opportunity to showcase all of our research we do," Voigt said. "Growers can listen to all the different presentations on cutting-edge research and implement it there, essentially improve their profitability on their farms."

Voigt said the conference is a good time for the public to see firsthand all the things affecting the industry and get an understanding of what it's like to be a potato grower, processor or shipper.

"We're going to be hearing presentations on everything from bugs and diseases to international export opportunities to legislative actions," he said. "It's really a great chance if someone from the community has a couple free days to come by the conference or even just a portion of the conference and check out some of the presentations, and get a better understanding of the economic driver of the Columbia Basin, which we think are potatoes."

"It's the core of our being, the agricultural community here, and the fact (Grant County is) the largest potato producer in the world," Doran-Martinez said. "It's kind of tooting our own horn, so to speak, by hosting the statewide conference here in our own back yard."

Visitors to the area seeking assistance are welcome at the chamber, located at 324 S. Pioneer Way, Doran-Martinez said. The chamber assists the commission with coordinating the ladies' program and is typically the community volunteer staff at the conference, she added.