Farm and Ranch June 25, 2010 The National Potato Council and the United States Potato Board recently announced that U.S. fresh potatoes, including chip and table-stock, may now enter Vietnam. The access is based on an agreement reached between the USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Matt Harris, Director of Trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, explains the potential of the Vietnam market.

Harris: “What we understand, Vietnam has a population of about 78 million people. To put that into perspective, Canada our northern neighbor has 30 million people. So, there is some potential for market growth. We are going to be tying this market expansion into the recent announcement of Governor Gregoire‘s trip to Vietnam and China to help promote Washington trade.”

Harris says Washington’s potato industry has visited Vietnam before.

Harris: “We have been in Vietnam. Years ago Governor Locke, now Secretary of Commerce Locke, headed a mission to Vietnam and the Potato Commission participated in that program.”

And Vietnam currently purchases U.S. French fries.

That’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I’m Bob Hoff on Northwest Aginfo Net.