Listen to an audio summary of this news article:
In the world of potato research and extension, certain names stand out not just for their scientific contributions, but for the profound impact they leave on the industry and the people within it. Dr. Michael Thornton is one such name.
As he prepares to retire in March 2025, the potato community in North America—and beyond—takes this moment to reflect on Mike Thornton’s immense body of work, his deep-rooted passion for the crop, and his unwavering dedication to the growers and industry professionals he has worked alongside for decades.
From his early days on potato farms to becoming a cornerstone of research and extension at the University of Idaho, Mike’s career has been a testament to the power of curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. He has left an indelible mark on nearly every aspect of potato science—whether through pest and disease management, post-harvest storage research, or efforts to improve the quality and resilience of potato varieties.
The Roots of a Passionate Career
For Dr. Thornton, working with potatoes was not just a career choice—it was in his DNA. Raised in a potato household, he was surrounded by the crop from a young age, developing a natural interest that would define his professional path.
“My dad was a potato specialist in Idaho and Washington, and my two brothers also followed that path into the potato industry,” he recalls. “You could say that potatoes are in my blood.”
But it wasn’t just family influence that drew him into the field. While working on various potato farms during his college years, Thornton developed a deep appreciation for the complexities of growing the crop and for the hardworking farmers who made it their livelihood.
“It fascinates me to think that you can drop a little chunk of tuber in the soil in the spring and four months later have a bountiful harvest of one of nature’s most perfect foods,” he says. “The fact that it is one of the most important foods for billions of people on this planet really emphasizes how crucial this humble crop is to the world.”
This appreciation for potatoes, both as a scientific endeavor and as a vital component of global food security, would fuel his career for decades to come.
Building a Foundation: Influential Mentors and Early Experiences
Mike Thornton’s path in potato science was shaped by a number of key mentors who guided and influenced his approach to research and extension work. One of his earliest formative experiences was working with grower and private researcher Max Hammond in Quincy, Washington.
“Max taught me a lot about how to do applied research and how much fun it can be to try to understand how potatoes respond to different management practices,” Thornton says. “That education continued during my graduate studies with Milt Workman at Colorado State University and Bob Dwelle at the University of Idaho.”
Both Workman and Dwelle had a passion for potato science and instilled in Thornton the importance of defining a research problem clearly and developing targeted methodologies to solve it.
Throughout his career, he continued to learn from and collaborate with some of the most respected names in the potato industry, including Ken Knutsen, an expert in seed certification and disease identification. At the University of Idaho, he worked closely with Gale Kleinkopf, Bill Bohl, Phil Nolte, Jeff Stark, and Nora Olsen—scientists and extension specialists who helped shape modern potato research in significant ways.
“I was privileged to work with these incredible individuals,” he says. “They were collaborators on my most important research and extension projects.”
Beyond academia, Thornton also found inspiration in the potato growers themselves. Industry leaders like Jim Corbett, a fieldman with Nestlé, played a key role in connecting him with growers during his early years at Parma.
He also expresses gratitude for growers like Doug Gross, who helped provide seed and research space in commercial fields—demonstrating the strong partnership between research institutions and industry stakeholders.
Transforming the Potato Industry Through Research and Innovation
Over the course of his career, Mike has worked on a diverse range of research topics, but one of the areas he takes the most pride in is his contributions to improving potato quality.
“It seems like quality specifications have become stricter over time, and growers have had to adapt by focusing on both yield and quality to stay competitive,” he explains.
Early in his career, he worked extensively on reducing handling-related defects such as blackspot and shatter bruise—issues that can significantly impact the marketability of potatoes. In the 1990s, he and Bill Bohl conducted numerous harvester workshops and developed resources to educate growers on best practices for bruise management.
John Forsythe of 14Group, who has known Mike since the 1980s, recalls the impact he had during these workshops.
“I was immediately impressed with his ability to communicate in a very understandable way complex ideas. He also had the unique ability to understand the physiology of the potato and at the same time the mind of a mechanical engineer,” Forsythe shares.
“Mike was hands-on and worked with farmers on their diggers to change gears to get the right chain speeds. Walking with a digger is a dirty job, and he was quick to be there in all the dust to provide help. These practical solutions made a significant difference in bruise reduction coming into storage.”
More recently, his work with fellow researcher Nora Olsen has focused on producing training videos to teach farm workers how to properly handle potatoes during harvest, storage loading, and unloading.
Dr. Addie Waxman of McCain Foods recalls how hands-on Mike was with his research.
“He loved being hands-on with his research and would put in the long hours to get the project done. Mike could work FAST! His hands would fly while sorting and grading. He didn’t need a scale to determine how much a potato weighed—he just knew,” she says.
Respected by His Peers and Industry Leaders
Dr. Jeff Miller of Miller Research, who has worked with Thornton since 2001, considers him one of the most respected researchers in the field.
“Mike truly is one of the greats when it comes to academic researchers who are able to provide applied solutions to grower issues. He has a great reputation with potato growers. I always enjoy listening to Mike speak, and I have learned a lot from him through the years,” Miller says.
A Lasting Legacy
As Dr. Thornton prepares to retire, those who have worked with him over the years acknowledge the significant gap he will leave behind.
“The potato and onion worlds will truly miss your enthusiasm, your integrity, and your love for the industries,” says Waxman.
“The industry will miss Mike’s calm wisdom. We all wish him a wonderful retirement,” adds Forsythe.
Miller sums it up best:
“While I am happy for his retirement, I will be very sorry to see him go.”
A Farewell, But Not a Goodbye
Dr. Michael Thornton’s contributions to potato science, industry collaboration, and grower education will continue to shape the industry long after his retirement. His work has left an undeniable mark on research, policy, and best practices in potato production.
As he steps into retirement, one thing is certain—his legacy will live on in the fields, laboratories, and classrooms where the next generation of potato experts carries forward the work he dedicated his life to. Thank you, Mike, from the global potato industry for your lifelong commitment to our beloved industry! We are indeed grateful for your immense contributions over the years.
Contact: Anyone who is interested to get in touch with Mike can reach him at any time on miket@uidaho.edu
Article author: Lukie Pieterse, Potato News Today