Promoting fresh potatoes in Macau and Hong Kong

Washington Today November 5, 2010 Representatives of the Washington and Oregon Potato Commissions were recently in Asia promoting the region’s fresh potatoes. Matt Harris, Director of Trade for the Washington Potato Commission, say one of the stops was in Macau.

Harris: “We specifically attended the Macau Wine and Gourmet Asia Program and really looked at expanding our presence for some of the specialty potatoes, not only russets, but specialty potatoes that we grow in our respective states.”

Harris says they were able to meet with the key resort people in the market.

Harris: “So we met with the Wynn. We met with the folks from the Sands/Venetian Resort. We met with folks from the Galaxy and also from the Wyndham Resort.”

Harris says about 80 million people move through the gambling retreat of Macau each year.

Another stop was Hong Kong where relationships in the retail sector were rekindled.

Harris: “When we look at exports to the Hong Kong market specifically, the U.S. exports about 78-79-thousand hundredweight of potatoes. And for Washington state specifically, we are anywhere between 30-32 percent of that market. So it is very important to be in the market to talk to those consumers of our products.”

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