Foreign snack manufacturers visiting Pacific Northwest next week

Farm and Ranch Report September 15, 2010 Chipping potatoes are the focus of a United States Potato Board sponsored reverse trade mission of foreign snack manufacturers who will be visiting Washington and Idaho next week.

Sara Mahler, who manages chip-stock international marketing for the Potato Board, says the manufacturers are coming from Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Central America.

Mahler: “During the week long trip we will have visits to different growing operations to see harvest, learn about storage, see packing operations and learn about chipping potatoes in general. It is a good opportunity for our snack manufacturers in these other markets to learn about U.S. chipping potatoes and the different varieties that we have to offer.”

Mahler says the countries participating were selected for the potential they have for increased sales of U.S. chipping potatoes.

Mahler: “We gauge our success not only by the interest we have created but by the sales that are created by the direct effect of the reverse trade mission.”

Mahler says the Potato Board learns a lot from these missions and the participants learn from each other.

Mahler: “So the guys that have never imported U.S. chipping potatoes before are talking with some of the folks that have previously used U.S. chipping potatoes. So, they gain a lot of information from hearing about their experiences as well.”

Next week’s reverse trade mission begins with a day-long seminar in Seattle.

That’s the U.S. Potato Update. Brought to you by the United States Potato Board, maximizing return on grower investment. I’m Bob Hoff for Northwest Aginfo Net.