Japan, a key market for U.S. processed potatoes, has yet to open its doors to fresh potato imports from the United States. National Potato Council (NPC) CEO Kam Quarles highlighted the significance of the Japanese market for processed and chipping potatoes, while noting the absence of access for fresh table stock potatoes. An approval for fresh U.S. potato exports to Japan could potentially increase fresh U.S. potato exports by 10 percent, Quarles estimated.
The NPC projects that granting full access to the Japanese market for fresh U.S. potatoes could boost exports by an additional $150 million annually. Such a development is anticipated to positively impact Idaho potato growers and the U.S. potato industry at large. Jamey Higham, CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission, emphasized the advantages of expanding export markets to alleviate domestic supply pressures, expressing confidence in the reception of the Idaho brand in Japan.
Idaho is the leading state in U.S. potato production, with the crop being a major revenue source and a hallmark of the state's agricultural output. The state produces approximately 14 billion pounds of potatoes annually, accounting for about one-third of the country's total potato supply.
A landmark NPC report titled "Spud Nation" revealed the U.S. potato sector's $101 billion impact on the national economy in 2021, with exports playing a crucial role. Approximately 20 percent of American potatoes are exported, contributing nearly $4.8 billion to the economy and supporting around 34,000 jobs. The report underscores the importance of export markets for the U.S. potato sector.
In a bid to address this long-standing issue, a bipartisan group of 10 U.S. senators, including Idaho's senators, penned a letter to the president urging continued efforts to secure Japan's approval for fresh U.S. potato imports. The letter highlighted that Japan has been requested to allow fresh potato access for nearly three decades, with the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) facing delays in technical discussions with Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Farming and Fisheries (MAFF).
The senators' letter criticized the lack of progress and dismissed any phytosanitary concerns as justification for the delays, citing the U.S. potato industry's successful export history to various markets. With another bilateral meeting scheduled between APHIS and MAFF during the week of September 16, Quarles expressed the necessity of maintaining pressure on Japan to resolve the issue, accusing Japan of protectionism and emphasizing the need for Japan to meet its international obligations.
Source: Aginfo