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Potato Handbook
The North American potato industry will start 2026 in Dallas, Texas, where Potato Expo 2026, North America’s largest annual potato trade show and conference, takes place from January 6–8 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center. Organized by the National Potato Council (NPC), the event brings together growers, processors, suppliers, researchers, policymakers, and international partners from across the potato supply chain.
Over the past 17 years, Potato Expo has developed into the central annual meeting point for the North American potato sector, with a growing international dimension. Networking remains at the heart of the event. Many participants see the three days in January as a strategic moment to build new partnerships, strengthen existing relationships, and align business priorities for the year ahead. According to NPC President and Washington state potato grower Ted Tschirky, Potato Expo continues to be the industry’s essential meeting place, providing a powerful start to the business year by bringing the entire supply chain together and reinforcing the relationships that will shape the sector’s future.
The 2026 edition combines that strong networking focus with a broad and forward-looking educational program. More than 30 sessions will explore developments in research, regulation, sustainability, and market trends, while 180 exhibitors will fill over 100,000 square feet of exhibition space. Innovation and advocacy feature prominently in the program, reflecting the challenges and opportunities facing potato production and marketing. One of the sessions highlights how technologies such as soil DNA analysis, tissue RNA and artificial intelligence are being applied in potato production, underlining the sector’s shift toward data-driven decision-making. Advocacy also takes center stage through a live recording of the Eye on Potatoes podcast, in which NPC CEO Kam Quarles and Randy Russell, President of The Russell Group, will discuss how the industry can effectively defend and promote potatoes at the federal level.
Dallas provides a fitting backdrop for the event, as NPC Vice President of Industry Relations & Events Hollee Alexander notes. With the industry gathering just after the New Year, the location and timing are designed to maximize participation and visibility. She emphasizes that, with only a short lead-up to January, companies are encouraged to register and secure their presence to ensure they are well positioned when the industry unites in Texas.
Beyond the conference rooms and trade show floor, Potato Expo is known for its informal and highly valued networking moments. Receptions, daily social gatherings, and the closing celebration create space for open exchange, while a live auction supports the Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) and its work on leadership development and education. At the same time, the event functions as a working platform for collaboration between national and state potato organizations. Groups such as Potatoes USA, United Potato Growers of America, and the Potato Sustainability Alliance use the week to meet, coordinate, and set priorities for the year ahead.
The complete program and daily schedule are available at the events website
Registration and practical information is also available.
Potato Expo is organized by the National Potato Council, the voice of U.S. potato growers on federal legislative, regulatory, environmental, and trade issues. The U.S. potato sector has an annual farm gate value of more than USD 4.5 billion and generates over USD 100 billion in economic activity across the supply chain, supporting more than 714,000 jobs.
For international potato professionals, Potato Expo 2026 offers a concentrated opportunity to connect business, policy, innovation, and networking at the heart of the North American potato industry.
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