US: Former National Potato Council president dies

Jerry Larson, a former president of the National Potato Council and former chairman of the Red River Valley Potato Growers Association, died Sept. 12. He was 72. Larson had suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. He was a longtime seed potato grower for Climax, Minn.-based Larson Farms. Larson’s industry awards include a Meritorious Service Award from the Red River Valley Potato Growers Association in 1983, the North American Seed Potato Grower of the Year in 1991, the Potato Man of All Seasons in 1999 and the Environmental Stewardship Award in 2000. He is survived by his wife, Carole; three sons, Nathan Lindgren, Daniel Lindgren and Benjamin Larson; 11 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; a brother, Darrel; and a sister, Dianne. Services are 11 a.m. Sept. 24 at Climax Lutheran Church in Climax. (Source: The Packer)