2024 - Your Commission at Work

05

we have been able to collect through these efforts, our strategies going forward can be all the more informed and intentional. Leading to what we feel will impact the movement of volume and consumption in the upward trajectory. Not to worry, even with this focus on trade, our efforts in consumer awareness, education, inspiration, and sweetpotato fun have not waned and I would even say, we’ve created some new ambassadors, partners, friends, and consumers through those efforts. Much energy has been put in to establishing new partnerships with numerous social media influencers by both PR agencies of record in all of our regions of focus. Our dedication in both supporting field (applied) research as well as obtaining grant funding to further engage in consumer research and outreach activities have kept us and our sweetpotato researchers busy! Both of these areas have their own dedicated sections in the magazine and of course, should you see anything that you’d liked to discuss further, don’t hesitate to contact our office, it’s my hope that you will be pleased to learn of just a few of the investments we are involved in – all in an effort to make the future of the industry that much sweeter. For this fiscal year, it’s more important than ever that we not back off from any of any of the areas highlighted throughout these pages. We do plan to further intensify our energy in advocacy, specifically around all conversations pertaining to the unsustainable increasing labor rates. While we have never been shy about advocating on your behalf on this matter, you will begin to hear about some of our other efforts soon – if not already (by the time of this publication). One specific place we need your help, as we beat this drum as loud as we possibly can, is for you to contribute to the field labor wage survey we have created. The data that you provide will be kept confidential and individual contributions will only be viewed by our office. The aggregate data will be used to take to Washington, DC for a much larger, louder and visual conversation. Our friends at Mississippi State University have already undertaken this effort and their findings, for their state only, are more jaw-dropping than I would have imagined. Therefore, I’m even more determined to collect our state’s data so that our respective states of #1 and #2 in National production may go arm in arm to DC with how these rates are not sustainable and are not only killing our industry, but many others in agriculture. Take a look at the image on the next page explaining what is required to participate, illustrating the data that MSU was able to collect and ultimately providing you the confidence to provide us the data needed so that we may replicate their approach and create our own charts. Some folks say a picture is worth a thousand words, and with your help, we hope to create some graphics that will be worth even more than that. Thank you, in advance, for your participation and trust in us to carry out this activity on behalf of our state’s SWEET industry. Every single member of the Commission should be proud of the incredible product you produce that not only feeds your own family, but your community, our nation and many other nations around the world. On behalf of your Commission Staff and the many professionals whom we count as part of our team, we could not be more proud to represent you and our industry. In every endeavor we embark on, our number one question is “How will this benefit our members and industry?” It is my hope that you will see this dedication and commitment in the following pages.

Thank you for what you do, and your commitment to do it at a level that is inspirational and rewarding to represent.

Sincerely,

Michelle

04