Colorado's potato industry, a vital part of the state's agricultural economy, may face new challenges due to proposed trade and tariff policies under a potential Trump administration. Concerns are mounting, particularly regarding exports to Mexico, which currently accounts for around 15% of the state's potato shipments.
Tara Artho, executive director of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, said the state's growers have spent decades building access to the Mexican market. The San Luis Valley, Colorado's primary potato-growing region, produces approximately 2 billion pounds of potatoes annually, making the state the second-largest producer in the U.S. Any disruption to trade with Mexico could have widespread consequences.
"So if that disappeared overnight, 15% of our crops would need a home, and you don't have enough consumers to eat that many potatoes that quickly," Artho explained. "All that loss of revenue would roll back on the grower to where they would not get any return on investment on that crop."
A sustained loss of export markets could push farmers to reduce planting, she warned. "If you continue to make that decision to grow less," it affects your long-term financial commitments. "It's like building a home with four bedrooms, even if you only use three bedrooms. Your mortgage doesn't decrease. You still own and have a payment for a four-bedroom home."
Farmers already operate with tight margins, and back-to-back years of reduced exports could place further strain on profitability. Artho also pointed to the potential knock-on effects for financing, noting that lenders need regular repayment, regardless of market conditions. "They still need their payments so they are able to lend," she said.
While the potato sector hasn't yet seen the impact of new tariffs or trade restrictions, Artho acknowledged that proposed policies are a source of concern. "Does it scare us? Yes. Is there potential for it to backfire? Yes," she said, though she also recognized efforts to use trade tools to strengthen American industries.
Artho emphasized the broader role agriculture plays in rural communities and expressed concern about the potential labor impacts of immigration policy changes. If access to agricultural labor is restricted, she said, it could result in crops left unharvested. "There are crops across the U.S. that would 100% rot in the fields. You would not have the labor to keep the supply chain going as it is today."
She stressed that the potato industry supports more than just farmers — it helps sustain entire communities. "They make our community better and lend their talents not only to our businesses but our schools and churches. The last thing you want is to lose a quality employee."
As proposed policies develop, Colorado's potato growers remain watchful, hoping to preserve the export markets they've worked for years to establish.
Source: Colorado Sun