News Release

Potato Growers of Idaho to keep offices in Eastern Idaho

BLACKFOOT, ID — The Executive Committee of the Potato Growers of Idaho has made the decision to keep its offices in Eastern Idaho. The committee voted unanimously to drop consideration of moving the grower organization to Boise to be closer to government and other industry entities. “We have a strong commitment to representing growers’ interests in Boise, but our responsibility is to serve growers first,” said PGI President Klaren Koompin of the decision.

Koompin noted that the bulk of PGI’s membership is located in Southern and Eastern Idaho. Staying in Eastern Idaho will mean frequent trips to the state capitol for newly named Executive Director, Keith Esplin, but he says moving PGI’s offices to Boise would mean even more frequent trips back to East Idaho to meet with the growers PGI serves.

“We have a small staff, but it’s good to see we’re making a commitment to stay put at a time when other businesses are choosing to leave the area,” says Esplin. “Idaho’s potato growers are still a mainstay of the state economy, and it would be encouraging to see more businesses make the same kind of promise to the people of this part of the state.”