Files
Abstract
A nation-wide movement in cooperative potato marketing began when Idaho
farmers founded United Potato Growers of Idaho (UPGI) in 2004. Potato growers
in other states quickly formed similar regional cooperatives and helped develop a
national federated cooperative – United Potato Growers of America (UPGA).
UPGA’s mission was to manage supplies to bring profitable prices to fresh potato
growers. Although prices rose to record-high levels they also became more
volatile. The development of UPGA was analyzed through the lenses of two
cooperative pioneers: Aaron Sapiro and Edwin Nourse. Growers organized
UPGA in the model of Sapiro who advocated nation-wide marketing control for
all producers of a commodity. Nourse claimed that agricultural cooperatives
should instead focus on efficiency. It is likely that Nourse would not have
approved of UPGA, while Sapiro would have encouraged them.