NORTHWEST POTATO VARIETY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYDEVELOPING NEW VARIETIES IS AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO COMBAT EVER-INCREASING STRESS AND PEST PROBLEMS, IMPROVE PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY, AND MAINTAIN THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE US POTATO INDUSTRY. AMONG THE GENETIC IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED ARE BETTER FRESH MARKET AND PROCESSING QUALITY, RESISTANCE TO MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES, INSECT PESTS AND DISEASES, MORE EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF WATER AND NUTRIENTS, IMPROVED STORABILITY, AND LOWERED PRODUCTION COSTS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO RELEASE AND COMMERCIALIZE NEW POTATO VARIETIES THAT WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT ALL SEGMENTS OF THE NORTHWEST POTATO INDUSTRY AND INDIRECTLY BENEFIT ALL US PRODUCING REGIONS. THE STRATEGY IS TO IDENTIFY TRAITS, MAKE CROSSES, AND APPLY SELECTION PRESSURES THAT WILL INCREASE THE PROBABILITY OF DEVELOPING VARIETIES THAT CAN BE PRODUCED AND UTILIZED MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN EXISTING VARIETIES.