USPB Initiates Frozen Potato Program In Central America

DENVER (January 22, 2008)— As part of its continuing strategy to develop new market opportunities for US potatoes, the United States Potato Board (USPB) has initiated a frozen potato program in Central America. Countries to be targeted include Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic.

With the implementation of the CAFTA-DR free trade agreements for Central America, US frozen potatoes are now well positioned for future growth, as shown by recent positive trade numbers and an in-depth research study undertaken by the USPB in FY06/07.

Effective January 1, 2008, TQ Marketing Consultants, based in San Jose, Costa Rica, will represent the USPB in this new marketing endeavor. Tatiana Quiros, head of TQ Marketing Consultants, is well-respected by both USDA officials as well as other commodity boards working in the region.

Quiros acquired her commodity marketing know-how by initially working for the US Foreign Agricultural Services and continues to conduct an array of Central American concentrated studies for a variety of agricultural cooperators. TQ Marketing Consultants presently represents both the Washington Apple Commission as well as the California Table Grape Commission with a team of six merchandisers positioned throughout the CAFTA countries.

During the next six-months, contacts will be developed and the ground work will be laid for the program. This effort will begin at the end of January with a program planning trip by the USPB International Marketing Manager for frozen potato products, Susan Weller, to the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.

The full market development program will get underway at the beginning of the new marketing year, in July 2008. The USPB is looking forward to working with US processors to fully exploit the opportunities in these emerging markets.

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David Fairbourn is Manager, Industry Communications & Policy, at the United States Potato Board in Denver. The mission of the USPB is to increase demand for potatoes and potato products through an integrated promotion program, thereby providing US producers with expanding markets for their production. David can be contacted at 303-369-7783 or david.fairbourn@uspotatoes.com. For complete information about the programs, ROI results, resources and tools available to all members of the industry through the USPB, please visit www.uspotatoes.com. The United States Potato Board -- Maximizing Return on Grower Investment.