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U.S. potato growers, processors gearing up for more exports

 

The CEO of Potatoes USA says the American potato producers and processors are putting more focus on exports.

Blair Richardson tells Brownfield U.S. exports are up, but they could be even higher.  “Twenty percent of the U.S. potato production is now exported each year.  This is a record level, but at the same time, we’ve been losing market share to our global customers.”

Richardson says importers are telling them they want to buy U.S. potatoes and potato products because of the high quality, but the products often are not available. “We have definitely lost opportunities to the Europeans, Turkey, and a number of other markets as well, but that’s primarily because we haven’t had the capacity to ship more product.”

And, he says that’s starting to change.  “We’re seeing the processors step forward and they’re investing in our industry here in the United States, and I think that’s going to allow us to fight back and regain some of our market share.”

Richardson spoke to Brownfield at the recent Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association annual conference.