The National Potato Council represents the interests of U.S. potato growers on federal legislative, regulatory, environmental and trade issues. The annual farm gate value of U.S. potato production is over $4.5 billion, delivering more than $100.9 billion in U.S. economic activity throughout the potato supply chain. The industry supports more than 714,000 American workers, both directly and indirectly. Learn more at nationalpotatocouncil.org.
The National Potato Council (NPC) installed its 2024 roster of Executive Committee members this week at the organization’s annual Washington Summit. During the Annual Meeting of the Voting Delegates, Bob Mattive of Monte Vista, Colo., was elected to serve as the Council’s President for the next 12 months.
Having grown up on a small farm in Brighton, Colo., Mattive began taking on leadership roles in high school – as class president and president of the 4H Club. Now, the partner of Worley Family Farms, LLLP, in Monte Vista, will continue to serve the industry in his newly appointed role as President of the National Potato Council. Mattive, who most recently served as NPC’s First Vice President and Vice President of Environmental Affairs, was elected to a one-year term on Feb. 26, 2024.
“I’ve always been interested in environmental issues and legislative affairs,” said Mattive, who was initially introduced to NPC as a delegate from Colorado. His involvement with the federal policy-focused organization brought about a national perspective and he served on different NPC committees throughout the years. Mattive also serves on several Colorado agricultural committees and boards. “I’ve learned a lot and I know we have to work hard and work together to keep relevant, to educate the next generation, and to continue advocating on behalf of our growers and industry partners.”
Mattive became a part of the fourth-generation Worley Family Farms when he and his wife Gail (Worley) were invited by her father to join the operation in 1982. When he started farming with his father-in-law, the operation raised about 500 acres of potatoes. Today, the farm raises around 1,800-1,900 acres of potatoes and 2,000 acres of other crops. The business is now also co-managed by their sons Grant and Reid and nephew Matthew Smartt.
For Mattive, environmental stewardship is second nature. “As with most industries, technology has become a large part of our organization. We irrigate all of our acreage with computerized center pivot irrigation systems and utilize GPS operating systems in most of our tractors and other equipment,” said Mattive.
Kam Quarles, Chief Executive Officer, National Potato Council
Kam Quarles is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Potato Council. He assumed this role in May of 2019 after serving as Vice President of Public Policy and Communications.
Since taking on the job of running the U.S. potato industry’s national trade association, Kam has overseen a comprehensive overhaul of the organization and its activities. These include building a strong team of professional staff and consultants, rebranding the organization and its signature Potato Expo, coordinating the largest disaster relief response in the industry’s history, securing significant victories in the long-standing Mexican trade dispute, and supporting a new multimillion-dollar foundation dedicated to industry leadership.
As a national leader in the fruit and vegetable industry, Kam serves as co-chairman of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, and as a member of the USDA/USTR Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee.
Prior to joining the Council staff, Kam worked for the international law firm of McDermott Will & Emery with clients including NPC, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, Sunkist Growers, Chiquita Brands International, the California Avocado Commission and other specialty crop interests.
He served as a vice president for both the United Fresh Produce Association and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and the managing director of the D.C. office for Sunkist Growers, the world’s largest citrus marketing organization. Kam was also a staff member in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Kam holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University in Virginia.
He and his wife Karen live on Capitol Hill. Their daughter Cate is a freshman in the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
