April 2024 - 20

IMMENSE IMPACT
A
Studies detail economic importance of potatoes
By Melinda Waldrop
MANAGING EDITOR
new report emphasized the
importance of expanding
U.S. potato exports, finding
that " moderate and achievable "
expansions in foreign markets would
generate an additional $1 billion in
economic activity.
" The Current and Potential Impact
of Expanded Potato Exports, " authored
by economists at Michigan State
University (MSU) and released Feb. 26
by the National Potato Council (NPC),
also found that expanded foreign
market access would support 5,600
more U.S. jobs.
NPC CEO Kam Quarles joined
incoming NPC president Bob Mattive,
outgoing NPC president RJ Andrus and
Ted Tschirky, vice president of trade for
NPC, to discuss the report in a media
conference call Feb. 26.
The study, released one year after
an MSU analysis found potatoes have
a $100.9 billion annual impact on the
U.S. economy, " will serve as a new
tool in our toolbox to advocate for our
long-standing policy priority, which is
expanding foreign market access for
U.S. potatoes, " Quarles said on
the call.
The report's findings were presented
during the 2024 NPC Washington
Summit, held Feb. 26-March 1 in
Washington, D.C.
Current exports of U.S. potatoes and
potato products generate around $4.78
billion in economic activity and support
nearly 34,000 domestic jobs, according
to the report. Mattive highlighted the
noted $2.2 billion in U.S. exports of
potatoes and potato products from July
2022-June 2023.
" 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, " Mattive, a Colorado
20
Spudman * April 2024
Source: National Potato Council
potato grower, said. " All benefited from
trade of U.S. potatoes. "
Approximately 20% of all U.S. grown
potatoes are exported, according to
the report, which analyzed variable
expanded market scenarios. Those
included a 10% increase in exports to
Canada, Japan and South Korea; a 25%
increase in exports to other East Asia
markets, Mexico and selected countries
in the Middle East; and an additional
$100 million in U.S. fresh potato exports
to Mexico and Japan.
Andrus outlined barriers to U.S.
exports, including tariffs, quotas and
sanitary and phytosanitary barriers.
" Two years ago, we overcame these
barriers to achieve full market access
for U.S. fresh potato trade to Mexico, "
he said. " As a result, we've seen exports
increase by more than $100 million, and
we believe the market has additional
room for growth. We're now working to
achieve the same access to Japan for
U.S. potatoes. "
A Japanese market fully open to
U.S. fresh potato, or table stock,
exports would become " a massive new
market, " Andrus said, estimated at $150
million-$200 million annually.
The U.S. has been able to export
potatoes for processing and a limited
amount of chipped potatoes to Japan
since 2006, but nearly 30 years of
discussions on table stock access have
bogged down in a phytosanitary debate
that includes the ironing out of a pest
risk assessment.
April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2024
