U.S. Dehy Potatoes Find Success in The Philippines

US Dehy Potatoes Find Success in The Philippines

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

TK Kuwahara, United States Potato Board International Marketing Manager for the Dehydrated Potato Program, shares the USPB has been actively marketing U.S. dehy potatoes in The Philippines since 1999. They began with a focus on the snack food manufacturers. In the last several years, USPB’s has shifted to new marketing channels like food service and catering.

Kuwahara: “So through our trade activities like seminars and trade shows, we’ve really provided additional education about the different dehy products that are available especially to the food service market for example. When people learn about the benefits of using dehy potatoes in food service that it doesn’t have to just be mashed potatoes on the plate next to the meat but it can actually be used as an ingredient and other applications, they really become excited.”

The good news for U.S. potato growers is that these new markets will increase demand for U.S. dehy potatoes.

Kuwahara: “Once we can get dehydrated potatoes really as a staple in these new markets and introducing to new sectors it is really creating new opportunities and net-new business for the industry to sustain our growth that is where we need to focus.”

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.