04/23/07 Mexico accepting Idaho spuds again

The door slammed shut last year when potato cyst nematode was discovered in a field near Shelley. Now, that door is slowly reopening. MUIR "Mexico has now opened up its market to Idaho potatoes and we've already shipped ten loads this past week. We have now opened up Canada and Mexico and we continue to work with Japan and South Korea." Idaho Potato Commission's Frank Muir says the Mexican government moved quickly to lift the Idaho ban which permits shipment 26 kilometers into Mexico. Muir says it's only a matter of time before more potatoes will be allowed into more of Mexico. MUIR "There's a high demand for US potatoes and we actually can supply our potatoes economically compared to what locals can buy their own potatoes for so there are a lot of reasons to ship the fresh product into the country." Muir says Idaho could also benefit from a just completed trade agreement with South Korea, the fifth largest export market for US French fries and a significant market for dehydrated potatoes. Muir says if tariffs and other barriers are removed the Korean trade agreement could open the way for more fresh potatoes from Idaho. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott