I. Identification

1. The Issue

The Idaho potato is a protected name on a local and a global scale. Because of its quality of taste and texture, it is prized among the world's tubers. Many of the the world's french fries, come from the Idaho Potato. How it arrived there is a matter of history and future policy.

2. Description

A Presbyterian missionary named Henry H. Spalding established a mission near Lapwai in 1836, where he printed the Northwest's first book, established Idaho's first school, developed Idaho's first irrigation system, and grew the state's first potatoes. He thought that by teaching the local Nez Perce tribe to farm, they would settle down. He gave up on the idea after the Natives massacred the residents of a nearby mission. Potato cultivation temporarily stopped.

In 1860, Mormons established farms north of Franklin, Idaho, and began cultivating potatoes. The first crop yielded 33 bushels; 16 years later, Idaho farmers exported over 2.5 million pounds of potatoes out of state.
Luther Burbank (New England) created a line of hybrid potatoes in 1872 that had a greater yield and size than other varieties, and took some of the tubers (Burbank potatoes) to California with him. Lon Sweet (Denver, CO) then selected a mutation of the Burbank potato that was resistant to several common potato diseases.

This mutant variety became known as the Russet Burbank, and would be the dominant Idaho potato variety. Idaho made this variety famous. Idaho became the 43rd state in the US on July 3, 1890. The University of Idaho established an agricultural research station in Aberdeen in 1911, with the primary purpose of improving potato cultivation. This remains its primary purpose today.

Idaho potato farmers have generations of experience. The state has "pioneered research to improve and storage practices, and remains a world research leader. Idaho has the world's most advanced storage research center, and claims more environmentally controlled commercial storage facilities than any other growing region".

http://www.idahohistory.net/dateline.html#; http://www.idahopotatoes.com/; http://www.famouspotatoes.org;

3. Related Cases

See other TED cases on geographic indications and related trademark issues at the project on Geographic Indications and International Trade (GIANT) project. Click here to access GIANT case studies.

4. Author and Date: Suzan Herzeg, Bryan Rund and Jim Lee

II. Legal Clusters

5. Discourse and Status: Agreement and InProgress

The average US person eats 142.7 pounds of potatoes each year. Idaho potatoes have the greatest name recognition and production preference among consumers, 82%. Idaho potatoes include the Russet Burbank, Norkotah and Ranger Russet varieties of potatoes; the name "Idaho potato" can only refer to a potato grown in the state.

6. Forum and Scope: USA and Multilateral

The Idaho Potato Commission began in 1937, and is funded by a tax on Idaho-grown potatoes, which is ten cents per each 100 pounds of potatoes. This money funds the IPC's activities, which include advertising, promotion and research to expand the Idaho potato market. According to the Idaho Potato Commission, Idaho is uniquely suited to producing consistently good potatoes. These ideal conditions include volcanic soil; clean air; warm, sunny days and cool nights; and water that comes from the snow that melts off of the nearby mountains. The potatoes consistently have a delicate flavor, high solids (21%) and high nutritional content. The high solids content is important, since it means that more solids are left for consumption after the water has been cooked off in frying or baking.

7. Decision Breadth: NAFTA and EU (18)

8. Legal Standing: Substate

III. Geographic Clusters

9. Geographic Locations

a. Geographic Domain: North America

b. Geographic Site: Eastern North America

c. Geographic Impact: USA

10. Sub-National Factors: Yes

11. Type of Habitat: Temperate

IV. Trade Clusters

12. Type of Measure: Culture

13. Direct v. Indirect Impacts: Indirect

14. Relation of Trade Measure to Environmental Impact

a. Directly Related to Product: Yes, Food

b. Indirectly Related to Product: No

c. Not Related to Product: No

d. Related to Process: Yes, Culture

15. Trade Product Identification: Mezcal

16. Economic Data

The state of Idaho grows more potatoes than any other US state, accounting for 30% of US production, or 13.8 billion pounds of potatoes. Potatoes make a large contribution to Idaho's gross state product, equal to 15%, or $2.5 billion; they account for 6.8% of southwest Idaho's economy, 27.4% of south central Idaho's economy, and 32.8% of eastern Idaho's economy.

17. Impact of Trade Restriction: Ban

18. Industry Sector: Food (and Drink)

The J.R. Simplot Company is on of the largest users of potatoes from Idaho. The procude 3 billion pounds of French Fries per year out out 12 plants (including a plant in Tasmania).

19. Exporters and Importers: US and many

V. Environment Clusters

20. Environmental Problem Type: Culture

21. Name, Type, and Diversity of Species

Name: Potato

The russet potato was developed by Luther Burbank in 1862 and refined over time from its origins in New England. Idaho produces 20 billions pounds of potatoes per year. This is one thrid of the U.S. total and enough to feed three pounds to every person on the planet. R.W. Apple, Jr., For Baking, For Mashing, Forever, New York Times, November 19, 2003, D1, D18.

22. Resource Impact and Effect: High and Regulation

23. Urgency and Lifetime: High and 100s of years

24. Substitutes: Like Products

VI. Other Factors

25. Culture: Yes

26. Trans-Boundary Issues: No

27. Rights: Yes

28. Relevant Literature

http://www.idahohistory.net/dateline.html#; http://www.idahopotatoes.com/; http://www.famouspotatoes.org;

11/2003

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