A Pasco, Wash., potato farmer will lead the National Potato Council for the coming year.

Randy Mullen was recently elected to serve as the council's president for 2013.

"It is my hope to use the next 12 months to build upon our successes and help move some of our high-priority policy issues -- like expanding fresh potato access to Mexico -- over the finish line," Mullen said in a Washington Potato Commission press release.

Mullen, owner of Mullen Farms, Inc., will continue as a member of the commission.

As president, Mullen will host the potato council's summer meeting in Walla Walla, Wash., June 26-28.

Washington farmers Jared Balcom, Ellie Charvet and Cully Easterday of Pasco; Nelson Cox of Warden, Bob Halvorson of Yakima, Darrin Morrison of Mount Vernon and Ted Tschirky of Connell were elected to the council's board of directors, according to the press release.