Table-stock seminars cook up interest in U.S. potatoes

Farm and Ranch Report December 15, 2010 “All About U.S. Table-Stock Potato” seminars were held recently in Malaysia and Indonesia for the first time by the U.S. Potato Board. USPB’s Sara Mahler says about 75 to 100 chefs, importers and retailers attended the seminars in late November and early December.

Mahler: “During the seminars the attendees learned about the U.S. potato industry, table-stock potato varieties, storage and handling techniques, consumer perceptions, as well as potato nutrition. Following each of the seminars the attendees were able to taste many dishes made with U.S. potatoes.”

And that generated lots of questions by the seminar participants.

Mahler: “Then after they were able to taste some of the dishes using U.S. table-stock potatoes we had a lot more questions on where they can buy the product and who to purchase it from.”

That is the goal of the U.S. Potato Board, increasing demand for U.S. potatoes be it in a new market for U.S. table-stock like Indonesia, where the seminar sparks interest, or in an existing market like Malaysia.

Mahler: “Malaysia currently imports U.S. table-stock potatoes and seminars like this help them to increase the number of U.S. varieties they are bringing into the country and it helps us increase the volume of U.S. potatoes being exported to the market.”

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.