Australian potato market opens up in Indonesia after trade discussions

Australian potato growers are winning new access to valuable Indonesian markets after a decade-long campaign opened the potential to export up to 85,000 tonnes of seed potatoes with a market value of some $110 million annually. A new agreement to take certified seed potatoes from South Australia and Victoria in Indonesia was made at recent trade discussions in Melbourne, following 10 years of negotiations between industry groups, growers, exporters and governments. It’s a valuable new market for local growers, according to Potatoes South Australia chief executive Robbie Davis, who believed the strong collaboration between the two states was key to sealing the deal. Potatoes had been on the Indonesian menu for many years, Ms Davies said, but the more affluent, middle classes were now experimenting in cooking with potatoes in new ways. More