The Vardaman board of aldermen postponed a final decision on whether to support Rob Langston’s effort to acquire a certified label for Vardaman sweet potatoes after another lengthy discussion Monday night.
Langston, who manages Penick Produce in Vardaman, has applied for several trademark labels that include the word Vardaman, and as part of the application process, the USDA asked him to get a letter of support from the town. Langston plans to use the seals for sweet potatoes packed by Penick and offer it to other packers and retailers for a price he described as “cents per box.” Langston has proposed an agreement with the town that they would receive 10% of all gross proceeds if they will support the effort.
Rob Langston, left, met with the Vardaman board Monday night.
The board has been clear in their concern of the potential impact on other packers and farmers in the area. Mayor James Casey said he was concerned that none he visited with knew anything about it.
“I went to the Sweet Potato Council first. I wanted them to own the certification mark,” said Langston, who began the application process nearly two years ago. “They didn’t want to go to the trouble or expense or whatever else was involved to pursue it.”
Langston explained that anyone will still be able to use the phrase Vardaman sweet potatoes on their product, they just can’t use one of the official logos he’s applying for unless they pay for the rights.
“I can’t answer why the farmers aren’t for it. They don’t have to use it,” Langston said. “I’m not trying to get anybody to use anything they don’t want to use or push anything down anybody’s throat.”
“My concern is it’s something that’s been going on for a year and ten months and it just came to us at the last minute,” Casey said.
“I came to you because the USDA asked me to,” Langston answered.
“Why didn’t you come to us first?” Alderman Jeff Hamilton asked. “We may have been interested in doing this.”
Langston said if the town is interested in taking on the expense and pursuing the matter, he would welcome it.
“I’m not trying to pull any wool over anybody’s eyes. I want to promote Vardaman and this industry,” Langston said. “I’m not looking to do anything that would harm local farmers. I do business with them and want to continue to do so.”
“We want to do what’s best for the sweet potato industry because that’s what Vardaman is,” Casey said.
The board asked attorney Paul Moore, Jr. for his opinion and he explained trademark laws can be very complicated.
“That’s my problem. We don’t know enough about what we’re doing,” Hamilton said. “I’m just one vote but I’m not for it.”
“I’m not either,” Alderman Jeff Clements said.
The board voted to allow Paul Moore Jr. to check with some trademark attorneys Tuesday and report back to the board while Langston asks for an extension to the Sept. 18 deadline on his application.
The only other business in the meeting was the approval of the 2014-15 budget, which includes a 2 mil tax increase that should generate approximately $6,800 in additional revenue for the town, and the swearing in of Josh Hughes as a Vardaman policeman.