Chipping away at overseas snack manufacturers

Farm and Ranch Report February 9, 2011 One way the U.S. Potato Board works to develop overseas markets for U.S. chipping potatoes and their growers is through a chip samples program. Sarah Mahler, with the Potato Board’s International Marketing program, says this involves shipping a container with chipping varieties to snack manufacturers.

Mahler: “We will arrange the ocean freight and send the potatoes to our target markets. The manufacturers will then have an opportunity to test those different varieties on their production line to determine if they meet their specifications and their requirements.”

So far this fiscal year sample shipments have been sent to three snack manufacturers.

Mahler: “We have sent some to Thailand, Malaysia as well as Vietnam. And the results of the sample shipments so far this year have been really positive. The manufacturers have tested them in their facilities and given us positive feedback that the samples did perform well and did meet their specifications.”

Mahler says the Board has found that the chip samples program is one of the most effective ways to educate snack manufacturers about U.S. varieties.

Mahler: “Over the last five years we have sent sample shipments to 11 companies in our target markets and nine out of the eleven companies we have sent samples to are using U.S. chipping potatoes in their production lines now.”

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.