USPB Improves Market Access With Japan Chip Manufacturers

DENVER (February 7, 2008)—The United States Potato Board (USPB) organized a chip-stock trade mission to Japan, November 5-9, 2007 for US chip-stock growers to meet with Japanese snack manufacturers. The US delegation was made up of Virgil Slagell and Lon Baley, USPB International Committee Members, Weston Walker, a chip-stock grower from Oregon, Dr. Joe Sowokinos from the University of Minnesota as a technical specialist and Sarah Mahler and John Toaspern, USPB staff.

During the meetings with Japan’s major snack food manufacturers, the US delegation provided information on the USPB, US potato varieties, their characteristics and how to maintain US potato quality during shipping, receiving and storage. During each meeting, the group also learned about the snack manufacturer and their needs and discussed market access.

US chip-stock was first exported in 2006 so Japanese snack manufacturers
would have enough high quality supply to maintain year-round production.

The trade mission was effective with productive meetings and plant tours and is a key element to maintaining relationships with snack manufacturers. Because the interest in and desire to import US chipping potatoes is very high, the USPB will continue to work with the Japan Snack Manufacturers’ Association and USDA to gain greater access for US chipping potatoes to Japan.

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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.