An update on fresh and processed potato exports
Farm and Ranch August 28, 2009 The numbers are in on fresh potato exports for the 2008-2009 marketing year, which ended June 30th and the data show that shipments of Washington potatoes were down from the previous year. Harris: “Our fresh potato exports are off about six percent from last year. The majority of what we export is to Canada and that was down 11%.” That’s Matt Harris, Director of Trade for the Washington State Potato Commission, who says a good crop in Canada last year provided sufficient domestic supplies. Despite the overall decline Harris says there were some positive trade developments this past year. Harris: “Also new markets. Some of our chipping potatoes. We had some exports to Thailand for the first time in a long time. Also to markets like Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic where we saw an export volume of chipping potatoes go to those markets to be processed for potato chips.” Results are also in on second quarter processed potato exports. Harris says U.S. exports are down about one percent and he points to the 20 percent tariffs imposed by Mexico in that trucking dispute for the loss of 7.2 million dollars in sales through April, May and June. Harris: “So we have seen a significant drop off in U.S. French fries going into that market because of the tariffs.” 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 the Northwest Ag Information Network.
