Potato Export Potential Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. The potato industry is in the nation’s capital this week for the National Potato Council’s 2024 Washington Summit.
While there, industry members will examine the latest Michigan State University study, “the Current and Potential Impact of Expanded Potato Exports” that incoming NPC President Bob Mattive (muh-TEE-vee) says is impressive …
MATTIVE … “They show that in July of 2022 through June 2023, the U.S. exported $2.2 billion dollars in potatoes and potato products which generated around $4.78 billion dollars in economic activity. And it supported approximately 34,000 U.S. jobs throughout the value chain.”
Those numbers, Mattive says impact everyone involved ...
MATTIVE … “So that economic activity didn’t just benefit potato growers but also farm laborers, process workers, truck drivers, longshoremen, and the communities that they live in all benefited from trade of U.S. potatoes.”
And, Mattive says moderate, achievable expansion could generate another $1 billion and 5,600 jobs …
MATTIVE … “So, we all know that potatoes are
America’s favorite vegetable. Now we know that potatoes also hold the key to unlocking some further job growth and economic development for our nation.”
To see the entire report, go to
www.NationalPotatoCouncil.org/SpudNation
