[Pictured above: USDA Undersecretary for Trade Luke Lindberg (left) joins BCI’s Matt Lantz at a grocery store in Tokyo to view U.S. processed potato products available to Japanese consumers.]
This week, a delegation of potato leaders joined USDA officials and other key staff in Tokyo where they emphasized the importance of gaining fresh market access for U.S. potatoes. NPC CEO Kam Quarles was joined by Jared Balcom, past president of NPC who also serves on USDA Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee, Blair Richardson, President and CEO of Potatoes USA, and Matt Lantz with Bryant Christie, Inc.
“Gaining fresh access to Japan would result in $150 million a year in new potato exports. If the President can use the leverage he has created with Japan to finally deliver this new market, the impact for American growers would be tremendous,” said NPC CEO Kam Quarles.
Due to the government shutdown, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins had to cancel her participation at the last minute. USDA Undersecretary for Trade Luke Lindberg headed up the U.S. delegation in her absence.
“We have the opportunity to finally conclude a landmark deal for $150 million a year in new U.S. fresh potato exports to Japan. It is very unfortunate that the government shutdown impacted those negotiations and highlights its real-world negative impact on U.S. family farms,” said Kam Quarles, National Potato Council CEO.
