Vietnam Presents Exciting US Potato Marketing Opportunities

Vietnam Presents Exciting US Potato Marketing Opportunities

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the U.S. Potato Update.

With a majority of its population under 25 years old, and the fast food business increasing more than 70 percent since 2008, Vietnam presents an exciting marketing opportunity for U.S. potatoes.

Last fall the U.S. Potato Board participated in a Food and Hotel Vietnam trade show where nearly 10,000 people attended the three-day event. TK Kuwahara, International Marketing Manager for the United States Potato Board, shares more about the reception and reaction U.S. potatoes received at the show.

Kuwahara: “Most of the trade that was attending the show are not familiar with U.S. potatoes and potato products. They were very surprised and excited to see all the different type of varieties of not only the fresh potatoes, but frozen potatoes and dehy. For example, they’ve never had seen colored variety of fresh potatoes before. In the frozen arena, they’ve never seen curly fries or the different cuts of frozen products.”

Attending International trade shows and introducing U.S. Potatoes to new markets helps to build new channels and in the future new sales for U.S. Potatoes.

Kuwahara: “It is important for growers to remember that almost one in every five rows of potatoes grown in the United States are exported.”

This was the U.S. Potato Update brought to you by the United States Potato Board, maximizing return on grower investment. I’m KayDee Gilkey on the Northwest Ag Information Network.