BOISE, Idaho (RFD-TV) — American potato growers are looking to Japan as their next customer.
Idaho State Department of Agriculture Director Chanel Tewalt says gaining access to Japan’s fresh potato market could represent a $300 million opportunity for U.S. producers.
“There is domestic production of potatoes in Japan. They’re very different than an iconic Idaho baker. We want to be able to have that discussion. We have been doing that for years. It is a priority for the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office. It is a priority across the board. That represents, so fresh potato access into Japan probably represents about a $300 million opportunity for American potato producers.”
Tewalt says the United States and Japan already have a strong agricultural trade relationship, particularly when it comes to beef.
“We have a very mutually beneficial relationship with Japan when it comes to beef. We send a lot of American beef. We send a lot of Idaho beef to Japan. The Japanese also send beef to us. They’re very different products. We recognize that they have their place, but they are different kinds of things.”
According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the United States exported a little more than 500 million pounds of beef to Japan last year.
