Idaho officials are taking steps to get fresh potatoes to Japan, according to a news story by Mia Maldonado, published by the Idaho Capital Sun.
Between June 5 and 8, representatives from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and the Idaho Potato Commission traveled to Japan on a trade mission to promote market access for fresh U.S. potatoes, according to an ISDA press release.
Traveling alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Idaho delegation joined 11 state departments of agriculture, 40 agribusinesses and several farm organizations for the trade mission.
Japan is Idaho’s fifth-largest trading partner, and it is the fourth-largest market for U.S. food and agricultural products. While Japan imports frozen U.S. potatoes for chipping purposes, a ban on fresh U.S. potatoes prevents Idaho farmers from sending their potatoes to Japan.
Idaho Potato Commission chairman Bryan Wada attended the multi-day event. In the press release, he said the trip was “very productive” and a step in the right direction to open the Japanese market to fresh U.S. potatoes.
Source: Idaho Capital Sun. Read the full story here
Photo: A farmer sorts potatoes during the 2022 harvest season in Declo, Idaho. Credit Kirsten Strough / USDA
